Wall assembly, hot-water supply system and architecture

ABSTRACT

A wall assembly comprises a front plate having a window provided therein for accommodating the display screen of a display module of a thin, large-screen television receiver, a holding unit for holding a housing in which the display module is installed, a cooling jacket disposed in contact with a heat conductive sheet joined by pressure to the back side of the housing for cooling and having a flow passage through which a heat exchange medium runs, and a rear plate disposed to confront the front plate, wherein the front plate and the rear plate accommodate the holding unit and the cooling jacket for assembling with the display module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Nonprovisional application claims priorities under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/903,327 filed on Feb. 23, 2007, and under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2008-7314 filed in Japan on Jan. 16, 2008, and No. 2008-7315 filed in Japan on Jan. 16, 2008 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wall assembly equipped with a built-in cooling unit for installing an AV device, a hot-water supply system for using the heat released from AV device, and an architecture built with the wall assembly(s).

Also, the present invention relates to a wall assembly arranged integral with an AV device and an architecture employing the wall assembly(s).

2. Description of Related art

Recently, the demand for watching digital broadcasting programs at high quality with a thin, large screen display device has been increased. As such a display device has been decreased in the thickness, its installation with a large screen occupies a significant area in the room of a common family house, thus minimizing the available space. One of the solutions for overcoming the above drawback is to mount a thin television receiver on the wall (See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-36609 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207385 (1998)).

Also, as advanced display devices including liquid crystal displays and plasma displays have been increased in the screen size and decreased in the thickness, their display modules are installed in housings. The display devices generate amounts of heat particularly at their display modules and electronic components when they are in action. Since their generation of heat is increased in proportion to the screen size, the image quality, and the luminance, the display devices are generally equipped with heat radiating systems of either air cooling type or water cooling type.

A variety of the display devices with such heat radiating systems have been proposed depending on the low noise, the large screen, and the space saving at the installation.

For example, a display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-17413 has a scheme for cooling down the housing of its display module from which heat is emitted with no use of a cooling fan for the sake of low noise operation, where a pipe for circulating the cooling liquid is mounted on the inner side of a back wall of the housing of the display module.

Another display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-75858 has a display module embedded in a wall, in which the display module can spontaneously be cooled down together with printed circuit boards by the circulation of air.

A wall mountable system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3423529 has a display device thereof mounted to a wall mountable panel while including no radiating system.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-36609 discloses that a building structure has a refrigerator, a television receiver, and other device installed in a wall thereof. As a structural member for releasing the heat generated by the television receiver or the others is arranged integral with a central control unit located in the space under the floor, it prevents the room temperature from being increased by the generated heat. Meanwhile, the cooling air from an air conditioner is distributed to the rooms by air conditioning ducts provided in the wall. The heat released from the air conditioner is transferred by a heat exchanger to a hot water which is then fed to a bath, an amenity room, and other locations.

SUMMARY

Each of the conventional large screen display devices such as thin television receivers has a heat radiating unit of either air cooling type or water cooling type mounted in the device body or embedded in a wall thereof but fails to have an AV device as a single unit such as a display, a receiver, or a DVD drive or a combination of AV devices as a single unit arranged for mounting integrally and assembling together with the wall thereof so as to be cooled down with the cooling unit.

Also, while the heat released from the cooling unit may be utilized for supply of hot water, the heat released from the device such as an AV device or a household electronic apparatus, especially the heat released from a display of which the energy is increased in proportion to the large screen and the high luminance remains not effectively used.

Although the wall mountable display devices have to be provided with a scheme for protecting against the falling down due to an earthquake or a collision with a human body, an object etc., or dropping down from the wall, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-36609 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207385 (1998) fail to disclose no protection against the falling down or dropping down.

Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207385 (1998) discloses an arrangement where a display device is securely fitted into a recess provided in the wall. However, as the display device is fitted into the recess in the wall, it can hardly be cooled down with the warmed air which stays at its back side in the recess.

We, the inventors, have founded out that the drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat are eliminated at once by not mounting a display on the wall but preparing a wall assembly as a display device where the passages for circulating the cooling air are provided in the wall.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-36609 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207385 disclose no technical hint or specific means for providing a display built-in wall assembly.

It is hence an object, in view of the foregoing facts, to provide a wall assembly having an AV device as a single unit or a combination of AV devices as a single unit arranged for mounting integrally therein and assembling together therewith, where the AV device are assembled integrally with a wall for being cooled down by a cooling unit, a hot-water supply system for using the heat released from AV device, and an architecture employing the wall assembly.

It is another object to provide a wall assembly capable of eliminating at once the drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat on AV devices and an architecture employing the wall assembly.

A wall assembly according to a first aspect is a wall assembly including a wall body having an AV device held therein; and a cooling unit installed in the wall body as disposed in contact with the AV device and having a flow passage where a heat exchange medium runs through.

The first aspect allows a desired one of AV devices to be selected and installed in the wall body. The wall assembly having the AV device installed therein may be used as a block for building a wall. When two or more of the wall assemblies are assembled together, they constitute a single unit of AV system.

When having been installed in the wall assembly, the AV device stays in contact with the cooling unit. As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the AV device.

A wall assembly according to a second aspect is a wall assembly including a front plate having a window provided therein for a display unit or an operating unit of an AV device; a holding unit for holding the AV device; a cooling unit disposed in contact with the AV device and having a flow passage where a heat exchange medium runs through; and a rear plate disposed to confront the front plate, wherein the front plate and the rear plate accommodate the holding unit and the cooling unit.

The second aspect allows a desired one of AV devices to be selected and securely held with its display unit or operating unit in the window by the holding unit. The wall assembly having the AV device installed therein may be used as a block for building a wall.

Two or more of the wall assemblies may be assembled together to constitute a single unit of AV system.

When having been installed in the wall assembly, the AV device stays in contact with the cooling unit. As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a third aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a part, entire, or a heat generating part of the AV device.

The third aspect allows the AV device to stay at its part, entire, or heat generating part in contact with the cooling unit when having been installed in the wall assembly.

As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the part, the entire, or the heat generating part of the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the AV device includes a display module which is held by the holding unit while the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a part or entire of the display module.

The fourth aspect allows the display module to stay at its part or the entire in contact with the cooling unit when having been installed in the wall assembly as held by the holding unit.

As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the part or the entire of the display module.

The wall assembly according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is disposed to confront the front plate and substantially equal in size to the front plate.

The fifth aspect allows the cooling unit to cool down not only the AV device but also entirely the internal space of the wall assembly.

The wall assembly according to a sixth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a heat generating part of the display module.

The sixth aspect allows the display module to stay at its heat generating part in contact with the cooling unit when having been installed in the wall assembly as held by the holding unit.

As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the heat generating part of the display module and thus cool down the same more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a seventh aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet and a flow outlet provided in one side thereof for passing the heat exchange medium and a flow labyrinth passage extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet.

The seventh aspect allows the heat exchange medium to run through the flow labyrinth passage in the cooling unit for cooling down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit.

The wall assembly according to an eighth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet provided in one side thereof and a flow outlet provided in the other side thereof opposite to the one side for passing the heat exchange medium.

The eighth aspect allows the cooling unit to be improved in the deprivation of heat with the heat exchange medium running from the flow inlet to the flow outlet across the cooling unit, it can cool down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit.

The wall assembly according to a ninth aspect is characterized in that the display module is of a parallelepiped shape having a display screen provided at one side thereof, and the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a recess fittable into the other side thereof opposite to the display module side.

The ninth aspect allows the display module to stay fitted at the other side directly into the recess in the cooling unit when having been installed in the wall assembly as held by the holding unit.

As the heat exchange medium runs through its flow passage, the cooling unit can deprive heat from the entirety of the back side of the display module for cooling down.

The wall assembly according to a tenth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit has a narrowed part at midway between the flow inlet and the flow outlet.

The tenth aspect allows the heat exchange medium to run at a faster speed through the narrowed part of the cooling unit thus to increase its heat absorbing efficiency, thus cooling down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit at higher effectiveness.

The wall assembly according to an eleventh aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is of a zigzag tubular shape.

The eleventh aspect allows the heat exchange medium to run through the zigzag tubular cooling unit for cooling down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit.

In case that two or more of the AV devices are installed in the wall assembly, the cooling unit enables to be located to each of the AV devices and thus cool down directly the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a twelfth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit has a heat absorbing part and a zigzag tube which is disposed in contact with the heat absorbing part and where the heat medium runs through, and the heat absorbing part is disposed in contact with the display module.

The twelfth aspect allows the heat exchange medium to cool down the AV device at the heat absorbing part of the cooling unit while running through the zigzag tube. With its heat absorbing part positioned at a desired location in the zigzag tube, the cooling unit can cool down a particularly heat generating part of the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a thirteenth aspect is characterized in that the window is of a rectangular shape, a plurality of the holding units are provided, each holding unit having a slot of a rectangular shape at a plan view provided lengthwisely therein and a bulkhead joint disposed detachably along the slot thereof, the holding units are arranged to confront each other along one end and the other end of the window, and the bulkhead joints are connected with conduits for introducing and discharging the heat exchange medium on the cooling unit.

The thirteenth aspect allows the cooling unit to be favorably disposed in contact with the AV device with the bulkhead joints controllably positioned along the slots in the holding unit. The cooling unit is secured when having been joined with the bulkhead joint. Accordingly, the joining position of the cooling unit can selectively be adjusted.

The wall assembly according to a fourteenth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit is fixedly joined to the rear plate.

The fourteenth aspect allows the cooling unit to be installed in the wall assembly by assembling the rear plate to which the cooling unit is fixedly joined. As the heat exchange medium runs through, the cooling unit can cool down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit.

The wall assembly according to a fifteenth aspect is characterized in that the heat exchange medium is either water or alternatives for chlorofluorocarbon.

The fifteenth aspect allows the water or the alternatives for chlorofluorocarbon to be flown through the cooling unit for absorbing the heat.

The wall assembly according to a sixteenth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit has a flow inlet for introducing the heat exchange medium and a flow outlet for discharging the heat exchange medium and by further comprising: conduits connected to the flow inlet and the flow outlet; and a circulation pump for delivering the heat exchange medium via the conduit to the cooling unit.

The sixteenth aspect allows the heat exchange medium to be conveyed via the conduit to the cooling unit by the action of the circulation pump. The heat exchange medium runs into the flow inlet and out from the flow outlet of the cooling unit. Accordingly, the cooling unit can cool down the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit.

The wall assembly according to a seventeenth aspect is characterized in that the AV device has a power switch, and a start switch for starting the circulating pump is interlocked with the action of the power switch.

The seventeenth aspect allows the action of the circulation pump to start when the power switch is turned on for activating the AV device. As the heat exchange medium is conveyed via the conduit to the cooling unit by the action of the circulation pump, the AV device disposed in contact with the cooling unit is cooled down.

The wall assembly according to an eighteenth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit includes a temperature sensor, and the start switch of the circulation pump is turned on based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor.

The eighteenth aspect allows the AV device to be cooled down depending on the temperature of the cooling unit as the circulation pump is activated by the temperature sensor on the cooling unit.

The wall assembly according to a nineteenth aspect is characterized in that the cooling unit includes a temperature sensor, and the delivery output of the circulation pump is controlled based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor.

The nineteenth aspect allows the delivery output of the circulation pump to be controllably increased or decreased by the detection signal from the temperature sensor in the cooling unit thus to control the flow of the heat exchange medium passing through the cooling unit.

Accordingly, the temperature of the cooling unit can be controlled by adjusting the delivery output of the circulation pump.

The wall assembly according to a twentieth aspect is characterized in that the heat exchange medium is water, and further comprising a water storage tank, wherein the water stored in the water storage tank is fed to the cooling unit by the circulation pump.

The twentieth aspect allows the water to be controllably increased or decreased in the delivery amount from the circulation pump as having been stored as a heat exchange medium in the water storage tank. Accordingly, the cooling efficiency of the cooling unit can be adjusted by the flow of the water.

A hot-water supply system according to a twenty-first aspect is a hot-water supply system comprising the above described wall assembly and a hot water container for heating up the water supplied.

The twenty-first aspect allows the hot water to be supplied with the use of heat released from the AV device installed in the wall assembly.

The hot-water supply system according to a twenty-second aspect is characterized in that the heat exchange medium to be supplied to the cooling unit is water and the water is then conveyed to the hot water container.

The twenty-second aspect allows the water passing through the cooling unit to be turned to hot water with the use of heat released from the AV device installed in the wall assembly before supplied to the hot water container. As the hot water in the hot water container is then boiled, the energy saving can be ensured.

The hot-water supply system according to a twenty-third aspect is characterized by comprising a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the water and the heat exchange medium, wherein the water heated in the heat exchanger is conveyed to the hot water container.

The twenty-third aspect allows the heat exchange medium to deprive the heat from the AV device installed in the wall assembly while running through the cooling unit and to be subjected to the heat exchanging action with the water in the heat exchanger so that the water turns to hot water which is then supplied to the hot water container. As the hot water is boiled in the hot water container, the energy saving can be ensured.

The hot-water supply system according to a twenty-fourth aspect is characterized by comprising a water storage tank, wherein the water in the water storage tank is used as the heat exchange medium via the cooling unit and conveyed to the hot water container.

The twenty-fourth aspect allows the water stored in the water storage tank to be used as a heat exchange medium while the supply of the water is controlled for increase or decrease.

The water when passing through the cooling unit is turned to hot water by the heat released from the AV device installed in the wall assembly before conveyed to the hot water container. As the hot water is boiled in the hot water container, the energy saving can be ensured.

The hot-water supply system according to a twenty-fifth aspect is characterized by comprising a water storage tank, and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied from the water storage tank and the heat exchange medium, wherein the water heated in the heat exchanger is circulated through the water storage tank and the heat exchanger.

The twenty-fifth aspect allows the heat exchange medium to deprive the heat from the AV device installed in the wall assembly while running through the cooling unit and to be subjected to the heat exchanging action with the water received from the water storage tank in the heat exchanger before the water received from the water storage tank is circulated from the heat exchanger and the water storage tank. When the water has completely been turned to hot water in the water storage tank, the hot water is conveyed to the hot water container. As the hot water is boiled in the hot water container, the energy saving can be ensured.

An architecture according to a twenty-sixth aspect is an architecture comprising the wall including the wall assembly described previously.

The twenty-sixth aspect allows two or more of the wall assemblies to be assembled in a favorable combination to build a wall of the room in the architecture.

An architecture according to a twenty-seventh aspect is an architecture comprising the hot-water supply system described previously.

In the twenty-seventh aspect, two or more of the wall assemblies equipped with the built-in AV devices are assembled in a favorable combination to build a wall of the room in the architecture. As the hot-water system utilizes the heat released from the AV devices installed in the wall assemblies, it can supply a desired location, such as a kitchen or a bath room, in the architecture with hot water.

A wall assembly according to a twenty-eighth aspect is a wall assembly comprising a wall body for accommodating an AV device therein, an air passage provided in the wall body for communicating with the AV device accommodated in the wall body, and an opening communicated with the air passage.

The twenty-eighth aspect allows the AV device to be held in the water housing so that its drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat can be eliminated at once.

In the wall body, the air passage for passing the air over the AV device and the opening communicated with the air passage are provided. Accordingly, the air introduced from the opening can cool down the AV device when running through the air passage.

The twenty-eighth aspect may cover a wall assembly equipped with no built-in AV device. The wall assembly is not limited to an architecture wall assembly but may be implemented as a partition for use in the site of an office or an exhibition etc.

A wall assembly according to the twenty-ninth aspect is a wall assembly comprising at least two columnar members, a holding member disposed between the two columnar members for holding an AV device, a cover plate for covering between the two columnar members, an air passage defined between the holding member and the covering plate or defined in the holding member, and an opening communicated with the air passage.

The twenty-ninth aspect allows the AV device to be held by the holding member bridged between at least the two columnar members in the wall assembly while the cover plate is disposed as a wall side to cover between the two columnar members. According, as the AV device is disposed integral with the wall assembly, its drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat can be eliminated at once.

The air introduced from the opening can cool down the AV device when running through the air passage in the wall assembly.

A wall assembly according to a thirtieth aspect is a wall assembly comprising at least two columnar members, a holding member disposed between the two columnar members for holding an AV device, a front cover plate for covering between the two columnar members from the front of the AV device, a rear cover plate for covering between the two columnar members from the back of the AV device, an air passage defined between the holding member and the rear cover plate or defined in the holding member, and an opening communicated with the air passage, wherein the front cover plate has a window provided therein from which the AV device to be held by the holding member is exposed.

The thirtieth aspect allows the AV device such as a display device to be held by the holding member bridged between at least the two columnar members in the wall assembly while the cover plate is disposed as a wall side to cover between the two columnar members. According, as the AV device is disposed integral with the wall assembly, its drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat can be eliminated at once.

Also, the air introduced from the opening can cool down the AV device when running through the air passage in the wall assembly.

Moreover, the front cover plate has the window provided therein from which the AV device to be held by the holding member is exposed. Since the display screen of the AV device is exposed to the outside of the wall assembly, it can easily be viewed by any user from the outside of the wall assembly.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-first aspect is characterized in that the holding member includes a plate member joined at both ends along the transverse direction between the two columnar members to extend from the upper end to the lower end of the columnar members; a rectangular opening provided in the plate member for accommodating an AV device; and clamping members disposed along both the upper and lower ends of the opening for securely clamping the AV device from the upper and the lower.

The thirty-first aspect allows the AV device to be fitted in the rectangular opening provided in the plate member joined between the columnar members and clamped between the clamping members from the upper and the lower at the rectangular opening. Accordingly, the AV device when its size is large can securely be held in the wall assembly.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-second aspect is characterized in that each of the clamping members has a ventilation hole provided in the rear cover plate side for passing the air from lower to upper or transversely.

In the thirty-second aspect, since the clamping members have the ventilation holes provided in the rear cover plate side, the AV device clamped between the clamping members can be cooled down from the back side.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-third aspect is characterized in that the opening is provided in the cover plate.

The thirty-third aspect allows the air to be introduced from the outer side of the cover plate for cooling down the AV device.

The wall assembly according to the thirty-fourth aspect is characterized in that the opening is provided in either the front cover plate or the rear cover plate.

The thirty-fourth aspect allows the air to be introduced from the front side of the wall assembly for cooling down the AV device when the opening is provided in the front cover plate. When the opening is provided in the rear cover plate, the air can be introduced from the rear side of the wall assembly for cooling down the AV device. For example, in case that the wall assembly is used as a partition, the air can be introduced from the next room. When the wall assembly is used at the back side as an external wall, the air can be introduced from the outside.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-fifth aspect is characterized in that a plurality of the openings are provided, and by further comprising a valve for selecting one of the openings for ventilation.

The thirty-fifth aspect allows the opening to be selected from the openings by the valve for introducing the air or preferably the air at a lower temperature.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-sixth aspect is characterized by comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the outside of the wall assembly, and means for controlling the selecting action of the valve in response to a detection result of the temperature sensor.

The thirty-sixth aspect allows the temperature sensor to detect the temperature at the outside of the wall assembly and provide its detection result for controlling the valve. Accordingly, the location for introducing the air or discharging the air can selectively be determined depending on the temperature at the outside.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-seventh aspect is characterized by comprising detecting means for detecting the power on and off of the AV device, and means for controlling the action of the valve in response to a detection result of the detecting means.

The thirty-seventh aspect allows the detecting means to detect the power on and off of the AV device and provide its detection result for controlling the action of the valve. Accordingly, the location for introducing the air or discharging the air can selectively be determined depending on the power on and off of the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-eighth is characterized by comprising a fan disposed in the opening.

In the thirty-eighth aspect, since the fan is disposed in the opening, it can ensure the more effective action of introducing and discharging the air and thus the action of cooling down the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a thirty-ninth aspect is characterized by comprising a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the inside of the wall assembly, and means for controlling the action of the fan in response to a detection result of the temperature sensor.

The thirty-ninth aspect allows the temperature sensor to detect the temperature in the wall assembly and provide its detection result for controlling the action of the fan. Accordingly, the start and stop action of the fan as well as the number of revolutions of the fan can selectively be determined depending on the temperature in the wall assembly.

The wall assembly according to a fortieth aspect is characterized by comprising means for starting the action of the fan when the AV device is turned on and canceling the action of the fan when the AV device is turned off.

The fortieth aspect allows the detecting means to detect the power on and off of the AV device and, when the AV device is turned on and stays at its high heat generating state, start the action of the fan or when the AV device is turned off and stays at its low heat generating state, cancel the action of the fan. Accordingly, the action of the fan can be determined depending on the need for cooling down the AV device.

The wall assembly according to a forty-first is characterized in that the cover plate is made from at least one material selected from wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, and steel board.

In the forty-first aspect, the cover plate is made from a commonly available material such as wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, or steel board. Accordingly, the wall assembly can be fabricated at lower cost.

The wall assembly according to a forty-second aspect is characterized in that the front cover plate and the rear cover plate are made from at least one material selected from wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, and steel board.

In the forty-second aspect, the front cover plate and the rear cover plate are made from a commonly available material such as wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, or steel board. Accordingly, the wall assembly can be fabricated at lower cost.

The wall assembly according to a forty-third is characterized by comprising an AV device held by the holding member.

The forty-third aspect allows the air to be introduced from the ventilation hole provided in the lower of the cabinet which covers the back side of the AV device, passed through the interior of the AV device, and discharged from the ventilation hole provided in the upper of the cabinet. Accordingly, the AV device installed in the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a forty-fourth aspect is characterized in that the AV device has a cabinet covering the back side, the cabinet having ventilation holes provided in both the upper and the lower thereof.

The forty-fourth aspect allows the air to be introduced from the ventilation hole provided in the lower side of the cabinet which covers the back side of the AV device, passed through the interior of the AV device, and discharged from the ventilation hole provided in the upper side of the cabinet. Accordingly, the AV device installed in the wall assembly can be cooled down effectively as permitting the air to pass through more easily than an AV device of which the ventilation holes are provided in the back side of the cabinet.

The wall assembly according to a forty-fifth aspect is characterized in that the AV device includes a cabinet which has a back side, an upper side, and a lower side thereof, the cabinet having ventilation openings provided in both the upper and lower sides thereof.

The wall assembly according to a forty-sixth aspect is characterized in that the AV device includes a cabinet covering the back and an electric circuit covered with the cabinet, the cabinet having ventilation openings provided in both the upper and lower sides thereof above and beneath the electric circuit.

In the forty-fifth aspect and the forty-sixth aspect, the cabinet covering the back side of the AV device as well as the electric circuit has the ventilation holes provided therein at the upper and lower above and beneath the electric circuit. This allows the air introduced from the ventilation hole at the lower to cool down intensively the electric circuit which is a heat generating source during passing through the interior of the AV device before departing from the ventilation hole at the upper. Accordingly, the AV device installed in the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a forty-seventh aspect is characterized in that the AV device includes a cabinet covering the back and an electric circuit covered with the cabinet, the cabinet having a projection provided on the back side thereof to extend rearwardly from a location facing the electric circuit, wherein ventilation openings are provided in both the upper and lower sides of the projection.

In the forty-seventh aspect, the cabinet is provided for covering the back side of the AV device as well as the electric circuit. The cabinet has the projection provided on the back side thereof to extend rearwardly from the location facing the electric circuit and the ventilation openings are provided in both the upper and lower sides of the projection. Accordingly, the AV device installed in the wall assembly can be cooled down effectively as permitting the air to pass through more easily than an AV device of which the ventilation holes are provided at the rear of the electric circuit.

The wall assembly according to a forty-eighth aspect is characterized by comprising a guide member for guiding the air passed through the air passage into the ventilation hole.

The forty-eighth aspect allows the air to be guided by the guiding member to the ventilation hole. Accordingly, the AV device installed in the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a forty-ninth aspect is characterized by comprising a partition member disposed to separate the air passage into a ventilation opening side at the upper and a ventilation opening side at the lower.

In the forty-ninth aspect, since the partition member is disposed to separate the air passage into the ventilation opening side at the upper and the ventilation opening side at the lower, it prevents the air departing from the ventilation opening at the upper from returning back to the ventilation opening at the lower. Accordingly, the AV device can be cooled down more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a fiftieth aspect is characterized in that the AV device includes a heat radiating member exposed to the rear cover plate for radiating heat generated by the AV device.

The fiftieth aspect allows the AV device to be cooled down directly by the air passing through the air passage with its heat radiating member exposed to the rear cover plate. Accordingly, the AV device can be cooled down more effectively.

The wall assembly according to a fifty-first is characterized by comprising a guide member for guiding the air passed through the air passage towards the heat radiating member.

The fifty-first aspect allows the air passing through the air passage to be guided towards the heat radiating member by the guide member. Accordingly, the AV device can be cooled down more effectively.

An architecture according to the fifty-second aspect is an architecture comprising the wall assembly described previously.

The architecture according to a fifty-third aspect is characterized by comprising a ventilation device for ventilating the room, and a duct for connecting between the ventilation device and the opening of the wall assembly.

In the fifty-second aspect and the fifty-third aspect, the opening in the wall assembly is connected to the ventilation device by the duct. Accordingly, the air can be introduced into the wall assembly, passed through the air passage, and discharged to the outside by the ventilation device.

The architecture according to the fifty-fourth aspect is characterized in that the ventilation device includes a duct for communicating to the outside of the architecture.

The fifty-fourth aspect allows the ventilation device and the outside of the architecture to be communicated to each other by the duct. Accordingly, the air passed through the air passage in the wall assembly can be released to the outside of the architecture.

The wall assembly according to any of the foregoing relevant aspects has the AV device installed integrally therein while having the cooling unit for cooling down the AV device. Accordingly, the AV device can be cooled down. Also, two or more of the wall assemblies with the AV devices installed therein, each wall assembly as a block, can be assembled in a desired combination, thus forming a single unit of AV system.

The hot-water supply system according to any of the foregoing relevant aspects permits the water to be turned to hot water by the use of heat released from the AV device installed in the wall assembly and then conveyed to the hot water container. As the hot water in the hot water container is further heated to boiled water to be supplied, the energy saving can be ensured.

The architecture according to any of the relevant aspects permits a wall-mounted AV system to be fabricated from two or more of the wall assemblies with their AV devices installed therein. Also, using the heat released from the AV devices installed in the wall assemblies, the hot water can be produced and supplied to, for example, a kitchen or a bath.

According the foregoing aspects, the drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat on the AV device can be eliminated at once.

The above and further objects and features will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a group of wall assemblies of Embodiment 1 assembled together to serve as a wall in the room of an architecture;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a display module of a display device built in;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a group of AV devices built in;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a speaker system built in;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly which has a window thereof closed with a sheet of wall paper;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall-mounted display device with the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 where the display module is installed;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are perspective views showing columnar members of the wall assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of the wall assembly;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 where the display module is being installed;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 2 with a cooling jacket built in;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a cooling jacket and a display module in Embodiment 3;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 4 with a cooling jacket built in;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a holding unit in the cooling jacket;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 5 with a cooling jacket built in;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 6 with a cooling pipe jacket built in;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 7 with a cooling pipe jacket built in;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 8 with a cooling pipe jacket built in;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 9 with a cooling jacket built in;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing in detail a flow labyrinth passage provided in the cooling jacket;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 10 with a cooling jacket built in its rear plate;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 1 showing a construction of the wall assembly installed in a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the hot-water supply system in a house;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing a structural arrangement of the hot-water supply system;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a controller in the hot-water supply system;

FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 12;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 14;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view schematically showing an architecture wall assembly of Embodiment 15;

FIG. 29 is a six-side view of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 31 is a six-side view of a wall base structure;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view schematically showing the architecture wall assembly in which its front base board is opened;

FIGS. 33A to 33C are schematic views explaining details of an air cooling arrangement in the display device;

FIGS. 34A and 34B are perspective views schematically showing the architecture wall assembly before and after the display device is installed in a wall;

FIG. 35 is a schematic view showing an example of the architecture built with the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 36 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an example of the architecture built with the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 37 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing another example of the architecture built with the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view schematically showing Modification 1 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view schematically showing Modification 1 of the architecture wall assembly with a display device removed;

FIG. 40 is a side cross sectional view of Modification 1 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view schematically showing Modification 2 of the architecture wall assembly with its front base board opened up;

FIG. 42 is a six-side view of Modification 2 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing Modification 2 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view schematically showing a clamping member in Modification 2 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 45 is a six-side view of the clamping member in Modification 2 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 46 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an architecture built with Modification 3 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 47 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an architecture built with Modification 4 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a controller;

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processes of a CPU;

FIG. 50 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an architecture built with Modification 5 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a controller;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processes of a CPU;

FIGS. 53A to 53C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 6 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 54 is a schematic view explaining an air cooling arrangement detail of Modification 7 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 55A to 55C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 8 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 56A to 56C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 9 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 57 is a schematic view explaining an air cooling arrangement detail of Modification 10 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 58A to 58E are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 11 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 59A to 59E are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 12 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 60A to 60C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 13 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 61 is a schematic view explaining an air cooling arrangement detail of Modification 14 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 62A to 62C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 15 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIG. 63 is a schematic view explaining an air cooling arrangement detail of Modification 16 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 64A to 64E are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 17 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 65A to 65E are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 18 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 66A to 66C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 19 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 67A to 67C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 20 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 68A to 68C are schematic views explaining air cooling arrangement details of Modification 21 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 69A to 69C are schematic views explaining water cooling arrangement details of Modification 22 of the architecture wall assembly;

FIGS. 70A to 70C are schematic views explaining water cooling arrangement details of Modification 23 of the architecture wall assembly; and

FIGS. 71A to 71C are schematic views explaining water cooling arrangement details of Modification 24 of the architecture wall assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments will be described referring to the relevant drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a group of wall assemblies of Embodiment 1 assembled together to serve as a wall in the room of an architecture, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a display module of a display device built in, FIG. 3 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a group of AV devices built in, FIG. 4 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly with a speaker system built in, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a wall assembly which has a window thereof closed with a sheet of wall paper.

The wall assembly (architecture wall assembly) of Embodiment 1 is provided as a block unit with an AV (Audio Visual) device such as a display module 2, a television tuner 3 a, a DVD player 3 b, a terminal box 3 c, or a speaker system 3 d which acts as a member or function of a thin, large screen television receiver (See FIGS. 2 and 4). Alternatively, the wall assembly may be provided as a block unit which incorporates a combination of AV devices (See FIG. 3). The wall assembly is arranged for assembling integrally with an AV device or a combination of AV devices. Also, two or more of the wall assemblies are joined together to form a wall 1 of the room of an architecture (See FIG. 1).

The wall assembly is of a flat parallelepiped shape having a window 11 shaped therein to the same size as of an AV device built in such as a display screen 2 a of the display module 2. The wall assembly is adapted for use with no AV device built in as simply a wall member with its window 11 closed with a sheet of wall paper 3 e (See FIGS. 1 and 5).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 where the display module 2 is built in, FIGS. 7A to 7C are perspective views showing columnar members of the wall assembly, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of the wall assembly.

The display module 2 in the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic electro-luminescent display, or a surface conduction type electron emitter display which is a type of field emission display.

The display module 2 of the wall-mounted display device is installed with its display screen 2 a at the front side in a housing 4 of a flat parallelepiped shape in an upright state.

The wall assembly of a parallelepiped shape has a front plate 10 of a rectangular shape provided as a retaining frame for holding the display screen 2 a of the display module 2. The front plate 10 has a rectangular window 11 provided substantially in the center thereof similar to the shape of the display screen 2 a.

The wall assembly also has a rear plate 12 spaced by a distance from the front plate 10. The rear plate 12 is of a rectangular shape as equal in the vertical and horizontal dimensions to the front plate 10. The front plate 10 and the rear plate 12 may be made from a board material such as a plywood board or a gypsum board which is commercially available as a structural material.

A pair of columnar members 14, 14 of a square pipe shape are mounted on both side portions 10 b, 10 b of the rear plate 12 side of the front plate 10. The columnar members 14, 14 serve as both side walls of the wall assembly to join the front plate 10 and the rear plate 12 to each other while acting as spacers to ensure a distance between the two walls.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the columnar member 14 may be of a square solid shape or any transformed shape rather than the square pipe shape. The columnar member 14 may be made from any rigid material, such as a metal, a wood, or a cement, which is suited for forming a support or a side wall.

As shown in FIG. 8, the wall assembly has a cooling jacket 20 mounted therein which acts as a cooling unit made from a metallic material for circulating a heat exchange medium.

A pair of holding units 16, 16 are provided along both, upper and lower, ends 11 a, 11 b of the window 11 in the wall assembly to face each other for holding the display module 2 and the cooling jacket 20 at their upright state.

The holding unit 16 includes a holding base 17 of a rectangular shape when viewed from the front of which the lengthwise direction extends transversely and an engaging portion 19 of a transversely extending rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The holding base 17 has three retaining holes 18 a, 18 a, 18 a provided at equal intervals along the transverse direction in the front side 18 thereof for securely joining the holding unit 16 to the back side of the front plate 10 with screws (not shown). The holding base 17 is of a U shape at the cross section of which the opening side confronts the rear plate 12. The holding units 16, 16 serve as a wall body for constituting the wall assembly.

The holding base 17 at the lower end 11 b of the holding unit 16 has a holding side 17 a of a transversely extending rectangular shape at a plan view. The engaging portion 19 extends upwardly from the rear end 17 b of the holding side 17 a for limiting the location of the cooling jacket 20. The engaging portion 19 has three retaining holes 19 a, 19 a, 19 a provided therein at equal intervals along the transverse direction for securely retaining the cooling jacket 20.

The lower side 16 d of the holding unit 16 is arranged flush with the lower end 10 c of the front plate 10 and the lower end 12 c of the rear plate 12.

The holding unit 16 extending along the upper end 11 a of the window 11 is arranged upside down as inversely of the holding unit 16 extending along the lower end 11 b. The upper side 16 e of the holding unit 16 extending along the upper end 11 a of the window 11 is arranged flush with the upper end 10 d of the front plate 10 and the upper end 12 d of the rear plate 12.

The cooling jacket 20 is of a flat, hollow parallelepiped shape at an upright state; the front side of the cooling jacket 20 is substantially equal in the shape to the back side 4 a of the housing 4 of the display module 2. The bottom side 21 a of the cooling jacket 20 extends transversely along its lengthwise direction. The bottom side 21 a has a flow inlet 22 a provided at one end therein for introducing the heat exchange medium. The top side 21 b of the cooling jacket 20 has a flow outlet 22 b provided therein at a location diagonal to the flow inlet 22 a for releasing the heat exchange medium.

The holding side 17 a of the holding unit 16 at the lower has a hole provided therein to face the flow inlet 22 a in the bottom side 21 a. Also, the holding side 17 a of the other holding unit 16 at the upper has a hole provided therein to face the flow outlet 22 b in the top side 21 b.

The cooling jacket 20 is securely joined at both the upper and lower ends of the back side to the engaging portions 19, 19 of the holding units 16, 16 respectively by screws (not shown) inserted into the retaining holes 19 a . . . 19 a.

The front sides 18, 18 of the holding bases 17, 17 are directly joined to both the upper and lower sides of the back side of the front plate 10 respectively along the upper ends 11a and the lower ends 11 b of the window 11 by screws (not shown) inserted into the retaining holes 18 a . . . 18 a of the front sides 18, 18.

The width of the columnar member 14 extending in a depth direction from the front plate 10 is slightly longer than the width of the holding unit 16 extending in the depth direction. This creates a space between the back side of the cooling jacket 20 and the rear plate 12. The space acts as an air passage extending from the lower end to the upper end of the wall assembly.

Alternatively, the back side of the cooling jacket 20 may be joined directly to the rear plate 12 by making the width of the columnar member 14 equal to the width of the holding unit 16.

The cooling jacket 20 is arranged for receiving the heat exchange medium at the flow inlet 22 a which is fed from a medium source via a valve (not shown) to a conduit 23 a. The heat exchange medium runs from the lower end to the upper end of the cooling jacket 20 before departing from the flow outlet 22 b to a conduit 23 b. The opening and closing action of the valve permits the heat exchange medium to run into the cooling jacket 20 via the conduits 23 a and 23 b.

The flow of the heat exchange medium is denoted by the dotted blank arrow marks in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 before the display module is built in.

With the cooling jacket 20 located to face the window 11 in the front plate 10, the wall assembly has a recess 24 provided therein into which the display module 2 is mounted. The housing 4 of the display module 2 is placed at its upright state on the holding side 17 a of the holding unit 16.

The back side 4 a of the housing 4 is bonded entirely with a thermally conductive sheet 5 under pressure. As the housing 4 is mounted to the holding unit 16, its back side 4 a with the thermal conductive sheet 5 comes into contact with the cooling jacket 20.

The action of Embodiment 1 will be described.

The wall assembly is accompanied with an AV device selected from a group of the AV devices for conducting a desired function and securely placed on the holding base 17 of the holding unit 16. Since the wall assembly with the AV device built in serves as a block unit, a set of the wall assemblies may be assembled to a wall 1 of the room which incorporates an AV system (See FIG. 1).

It is now assumed that the display module 2 of a display device is built in the wall assembly. When the housing 4 which installs the display module 2 has securely been placed on the holding base 17 of the holding unit 16, the thermally conductive sheet 5 bonded directly on its back side 4 a of the housing 4 comes into contact with the cooling jacket 20.

When supplied with the heat exchange medium, the cooling jacket 20 deprives heat via the thermally conductive sheet 5 from the entirety of the back side 4 a of the housing 4, thus cooling down the housing 4.

The wall assembly of Embodiment 1 enables to be assembled together with its built-in AV device into a wall where the AV device is cooled down by the cooling unit.

Accordingly, the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 can be minimized in the operating noise with its AV device remaining cooled down with no use of a cooling fan.

Even when its display module 2 as an AV device is of a thin large screen television receiver, for example, which is improved in the screen size, the image quality and the luminance level and thus increased in the emission of heat, the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 can respond to an increase in the emission of heat with its cooling jacket 20 increased in the overall size or in the supply of a heat exchange medium.

Accordingly, the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 can guarantee the operational reliability of its built-in AV device even if the emission of heat is increased.

Also, since the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 is assembled integral with an AV device, it requires a minimum of the installation area while ensuring the development of a wall-mounted type large screen television receiver.

Moreover, since the wall assembly of Embodiment 1 can be selected to match the size of the display screen 2 a of the built-in display module 2, it is possible to select a wall-mounted type large screen television receiver suited in the size of the installation room. The wall assembly serves as a part of the room, its built-in AV device can be prevented from falling down at the event of an earthquake or a collision with a human body.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly equipped with a cooling jacket in Embodiment 2.

Substantially similar or like components are denoted by like numerals and their explanation will not be repeated. It is also noted that like components are made from like materials as those described previously.

While the cooling jacket 20 in Embodiment 1 is sized to match the size of the back side 4 a of the housing 4 which installs the display module 2, the cooling jacket 30 in Embodiment 2 is sized to match the size of the front plate 10.

The holding base 17 of the holding unit 16 at the lower end 11 b of the window 11 has a holding side 17 a of a rectangular shape at the plan view for holding the display module 2. While the engaging portion 19 extends from the rear end 17 b of the holding side 17 a in Embodiment 1, an engaging portion 19 in Embodiment 2 extends upwardly from the end 17 c at the rear plate 12 side of the lower side 16 d of the holding unit 16 for limiting the location of the cooling jacket 30. The lower side 16 d of the holding unit 16 in Embodiment 2 is arranged longer along the depth direction of the front plate 10 than the holding side 17 a of the holding base 17.

The holding unit 16 extending along the upper end 11 a of the window 11 is arranged upside down as inversely of the holding unit 16 extending along the lower end 11 b of the window 11.

The columnar member 14 is decreased in the thickness because the cooling jacket 30 is substantially equal in size to the front plate 10.

This allows the cooling jacket 30 in Embodiment 2 to cool down not only the display module 2 but also the space around the display module 2 or the internal space in the wall assembly, thus improving the efficiency of the cooling action.

Accordingly, the upper space in the wall assembly in Embodiment 2 where heat remains obviously can be cooled down.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of a cooling jacket and a display module in Embodiment 3.

The cooling jacket 32 in Embodiment 3 is of a flat tank-like shape which is substantially equal in the size to the front plate 10. The cooling jacket 32 has a recess 33 of a rectangular shape, when seen from the front, provided in substantially the center of the front side 20 b thereof which is equal in the depth to the recess 24 in Embodiment 1. The housing 4 is installed with its back side 4 a, lateral sides 4 b, 4 b, upper side 4 c, and lower side 4 d covered with the thermally conductive sheet 5 directly in the recess 33.

This allows the cooling jacket 32 in Embodiment 3 to come into contact with not only the back side 4 a but also the lateral sides 4 b, 4 b, the upper side 4 c, and the lower side 4 d of the housing 4, thus improving the efficiency for cooling down the display module 2.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, seen from the rear, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 4 including a cooling jacket and FIG. 13 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of the holding unit for holding the cooling jacket.

The cooling jacket 34 in Embodiment 4 is sized to match the size of, for example, a local heat generating part of the display module 2. The cooling jacket 34 is of a flat parallelepiped shape which is smaller in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions than the cooling jacket 20 in Embodiment 1.

The cooling jacket 34 is arranged mountable to the local heat generating part of the display module 2. For adjusting the location along the transverse direction of the cooling jacket 34, the holding unit 16 has a transversely extending slot 36 provided therein along the rear end 17 b of the holding side 17 a. The slot 36 is sized so as to accept a bulk head union 37 (a partition joint) for a ⅜ inch pipe.

When the mounting location of the cooling jacket 34 has been determined, the bulk head unions 37 are inserted into the slots 36, 36 in the holding units 16, 16 respectively so as to seat close to the flow inlet 22 a and the flow outlet 22 b of the cooling jacket 34. The flow inlet 22 a and the flow outlet 22 b of the cooling jacket 34 are then connected by ⅜ inch pipes 23 a, 23 b to the corresponding bulk head unions 37.

The location along the transverse direction of the cooling jacket 34 is adjustable with the bulk head union 37 slid transversely along the slot 36 in each holding unit 16. In addition, the location along the up and down direction of the cooling jacket 34 is adjusted by controlling the length along the up and down direction of the pipes 23 a, 23 b.

In this embodiment, because the pipes 23 a, 23 b are provided for supporting the cooling jacket 34, they may preferably be implemented by greater than ⅜ inch diameter pipes which are high in the physical strength.

Alternatively, the cooling jacket 34 when its location has been determined may be supported and secured by brackets extending between the back side of the cooling jacket 34 and the engaging portions 19, 19 of the holding units 16, 16.

A pair of stoppers 38 of a square pipe shape are mounted on each of the holding units 16, 16 for limiting the location along the depth direction of the housing 4 of the display module 2 which has been placed at its upright state on the holding sides 17 a, 17 a of the holding units 16, 16. The two stoppers 38 are located at both ends of the holding side 17 a as remaining in contact with the engaging portion 19 of the holding unit 16. The width along the depth direction of the stopper 38 is arranged equal to the width along the depth direction of the cooling jacket 34.

The flow of the heat exchange medium is denoted by the arrows and the blank dotted arrow marks in FIG. 12.

The back side 4 a of the housing 4 is covered entirely and bonded under pressure with a thermally conductive sheet 5. The cooling jacket 34 comes into contact with the thermally conductive sheet 5 thus to cool down the housing 4 of the display module 2.

Although the thermally conductive sheet 5 is bonded to the entirety of the back side 4 a of the housing 4 in this embodiment, it may be bonded to only the local heat generation part of the housing 4 such that the cooling jacket 34 is come into contact with a part of the thermally conductive sheet 5.

This allows the cooling jacket 34 in Embodiment 4 to be mounted to a desired location determined along both the vertical and horizontal directions with the bulk head unions 37 and the pipes 23 a, 23 b thus to cool down intensively the local heat generating part of the display module 2.

Accordingly in Embodiment 4, the display module 2 can effectively be cooled down at its local heat generating part by the cooling jacket 34 which has adjustably been located to face the local heat generating part of the display module 2.

In Embodiment 4, the single window 11 is provided for accommodating the display module 2. In case that two or more AV devices are needed to be installed, a corresponding number of the windows 11 are formed while a pair of the holding units 16, 16 are mounted at each window 11. A plurality of the cooling jackets 34 are also provided for cooling down the local heat generating parts of the AV devices accommodated in the windows 11 and secured with the holding units 16, 16, depending on the location, the size, and the extension of the local heat generating parts.

The cooling jackets 34 can hence cool down their respective AV devices at higher efficiency.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 5 including a cooling jacket.

The cooling jacket 40 in Embodiment 5 is arranged equal in the size to that in Embodiment 1. The cooling jacket 40 has notches 42, 43 provided therein to form a narrow cooling jacket part 44 (narrowed part) of which the width for passage is narrowed to match a local heat generating part of the display module 2. The notches 42, 43 may be sized along the vertical and horizontal directions so as to meet the size of the local heat generation part of the display module 2.

The flow inlet 22 a of the cooling jacket 40 is located at substantially the center of the bottom side 21 a. The flow outlet 22 b of the cooling jacket 40 is located at substantially the center of the top side 21 b.

Alternatively, the flow inlet 22 a and the flow outlet 22 b may be provided at any desired locations depending on the location along the transverse direction of the narrow cooling jacket part 44. In the latter case, the holding units 16 provided with the slots 36 shown in FIG. 13 are used.

The cooling jacket 40 in Embodiment 5 allows the heat exchange medium introduced from the flow inlet 22 a to run at a faster speed through the narrow cooling jacket part 44 which thus deprives heat from the local heat generation part at a higher efficiency.

Accordingly, in Embodiment 5 the action for cooling the local heat generating part can significantly be improved in the efficiency.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 6 including a cooling pipe jacket.

The cooling pipe jacket 50 in Embodiment 6 includes a heat absorber 52 of a flat, box-like, parallelepiped shape arranged to open at the rear plate 12 side and a cooling pipe 54 (a zigzag conduit) arranged in a zigzag configuration.

The heat absorber 52 has a front side 52 a thereof arranged substantially equal in the shape to the back side 4 a of the housing 4 of the display module 2. The cooling pipe 54 is bonded by a thermally conductive paste directly to the back side 52 b at the inner side of the heat absorber 52 as arranged to face the back side 4 a of the housing 4.

The heat absorber 52 is also arranged equal in the size to the cooling jacket 20 in Embodiment 1 and mounted by the same manner as of that in Embodiment 1. The heat absorber 52 stays in contact with the back side 4 a of the housing 4 via the thermally conductive sheet 5.

The heat absorber 52 has a lower side 53 thereof arranged to extend transversely along its lengthwise direction. The lower side 53 has two transversely spaced holes 53 a (a flow inlet) and 53 b (a flow outlet) provided at one end therein. The heat absorber 52 is held by the two holding units 16, 16 similar to those of the cooling jacket 20 in Embodiment 1. The heat absorber 52 is joined at its top side 52 c and bottom side 52 d to the holding units 16, 16 respectively by screws (not shown) inserted into the mounting holes 19 a, 19 a . . . of the engaging portions 19, 19 of the holding units 16, 16.

The holding unit 16 in Embodiment 6 has two holes provided therein to meet the two holes 53 a, 53 b of the heat absorber 52. Two bulk head unions 55 a, 55 b are fitted into the corresponding holes 53 a, 53 b of the heat absorber 52 via the two holes of the holding unit 16.

The bulk head union 55 a fitted into the hole 53 a is connected at the upstream side to the conduit 23 a for introducing the heat exchange medium into the cooling pipe 54. Similarly, the bulk head union 55 b fitted into the hole 53 b is connected at the downstream side to the conduit 23 b for discharging the heat exchange medium from the cooling pipe 54. The cooling pipe 54 is communicated at the inlet side to the downstream end of the bulk head union 55 a and at the outlet side to the upstream end of the bulk head union 55 b.

This allows the cooling pipe jacket 50 in Embodiment 6 to deprive heat via the thermally conductive sheet 5 from the back side 4 a of the housing 4.

Thus the cooling down efficiency of the display module 2 is improved in Embodiment 6.

While the cooling pipe 54 stays in contact with the thermally conductive sheet 5 bonded to the back side 4 a of the housing 4 via the heat absorber 52 in Embodiment 6, it may be arranged to directly touch the thermally conductive sheet 5 with no use of the heat absorber 52.

Since the cooling pipe 54 directly touches the thermally conductive sheet 5, its cooling action will be improved in the efficiency.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 16 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 7 including a cooling jacket.

Although the cooking jacket 50 in Embodiment 6 has the cooling pipe 54 arranged to extend substantially throughout the back side 52 b of the heat absorber 52, it may be modified by determining a desired pattern of the cooling pipe 54.

The heat absorber 52 of the cooling pipe jacket 60 in Embodiment 7 is arranged to come at its back side 52 b into contact with a target local heat generating part of the display module 2. The other arrangements in Embodiment 7 are identical to those in Embodiment 6.

Also, the cooing pipe 61 (a zigzag conduit) in Embodiment 7 may be arranged to come into contact with the thermally conductive sheet 5 with no use of the heat absorber 52.

This allows the cooling pipe jacket 60 in Embodiment 7 to set the cooling pipe 61 to face the local heat generating part, thus improving the action of cooling down at a higher efficiency.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 17 is a perspective view, seen form the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 8 including a cooling pipe jacket.

When the display module 2 has two or more local heat generating parts, the cooling pipe jacket 62 in Embodiment 8 has a corresponding number of cooling pipes 64, 66 (zigzag conduits) shaped to have a desired number of the bents and a desired extension of the cooling area and bonded by a thermally conductive paste to the back side 63 b of the heat absorber 63 so that it can face and cool down the two or more local heat generating parts.

In addition, the heat absorber 63 shown in FIG. 17 is sized to match the covering area of the cooling pipes 64, 66. More particularly, the size of the heat absorber 63 is about a half the size of the heat absorber 52 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

Both the upper end 63 c and the lower end 63 d at the back side of the heat absorber 63 are joined to the holding units 16, 16 respectively by screws (not shown) inserted into the retaining holes 19 a, 19 a of the engaging portions 19, 19 of the holding units 16, 16.

This allows the cooling pipe jacket 62 in Embodiment 8 to cool down the local heat generating parts, thus cooling down the AV device which has two or more local heat generating parts.

Embodiment 9

FIG. 18 is a perspective view, seen from the back, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 9 including a cooling jacket. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a detail of flow labyrinth passage provided in the cooling jacket.

In Embodiment 9, the cooling jacket 20 in Embodiment 1 is modified with the flow inlet 22 a and the flow outlet 22 b provided close to each other along the transverse direction in its bottom side 21 a.

The cooling jacket 70 in Embodiment 9 has a flow labyrinth passage 72 thereof provided to extend from the flow inlet 22 a to the flow outlet 22 b. The flow labyrinth passage 72 has no dead ends. The flow labyrinth passage 72 consists mainly of sub passages 73 a, 73 b, 73 c . . . through which the heat exchange medium flows.

The sub passages 73 a, 73 b, 73 c . . . are arranged to extend along the transverse direction. This allows the heat exchange medium to flow from the inlet ends 72 a to the outlet ends 72 b in the sub passages 73 a, 73 b, 73 c . . . with no stagnation.

While the flow labyrinth passage 72 shown in FIG. 18 permits the heat exchange medium to run along the transverse direction, it may be modified so that the heat exchange medium flows along the up and down direction or a diagonal direction.

In the cooling jacket 70 in Embodiment 9, the heat exchange medium runs throughout the back side 4 a of the housing 4 via the thermally conductive sheet.

Accordingly, Embodiment 9 can guarantee to efficiently cool down the housing 4.

While the cooling jackets 20, 30, 32, 40, 70 and the cooling pipe jackets 50, 60, 62 in Embodiments 1 to 9 are arranged to have a gap between the jacket and the rear plate 12, they may be modified to set the rear plate 12 in contact with the cooling jackets 20, 30, 32, 40, 70 and the cooling pipes 54, 61, 64, 66.

Embodiment 10

FIG. 20 is a perspective view, seen from the front, of an internal arrangement of a wall assembly of Embodiment 10 including a cooling jacket provided at the back.

The cooling jacket 90 in Embodiment 10 is of a flat, transversely extending hollow parallelepiped shape at an upright state. The cooling jacket 90 has a front side 90 a thereof arranged substantially equal in the shape to the back side 4 a of the housing 4 of the display module 2. The cooling jacket 90 also has a back side 90 b thereof bonded to substantially the center of the rear plate 12. The front side 90 a of the cooling jacket 90 confronts the window 11 in the front plate 10.

The flow outlet 22 a is provided in one side at lower of the cooling jacket 90. The flow outlet 22 b for discharging the heat exchange medium is provided in the other side at upper of the cooling jacket 90 diagonally of the flow inlet 22 a.

This allows the heat exchange medium supplied from a heat exchange medium source to run across a valve (not shown) to a conduit 23 a before entering the flow inlet 22 a of the cooling jacket 90. The heat exchange medium then flows upwardly throughout the cooling jacket 90 before running out from the flow outlet 22 b to a conduit 23 b. The opening and closing action of the valve permits the feed of the heat exchange medium to the cooling jacket 90 between the two conduits 23 a and 23 b.

The holding units 16 for holding the display module 2 at its upright state are provided in the wall assembly. The holding unit 16 has a holding base 17 of a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, of which the lengthwise direction extends transversely. The holding base 17 has three retaining holes 18 a, 18 a, 18 a provided at equal intervals along the transverse direction in the front side 18 thereof for securely joining the holding unit 16 to the back side of the front plate 10 with screws (not shown). The holding base 17 is of a U shape at the cross section of which the opening side confronts the rear plate 12. The holding base 17 has a holding side 17 a of a transversely extending rectangular shape at the plan view. The holding units 16, 16 are securely joined with their holding sides 17 a, 17 a extended along the upper end 11 a and the lower end 11 b of the window 11 in the front plate 10 respectively to the back side of the front plate 10 by screws (not shown).

The back side 4 a of the housing 4 of the display module 2 is bonded entirely with a thermally conductive sheet 5 under pressure. The housing 4 is held by the holding units 16, 16. The cooling jacket 90 is arranged to stay at its front side 90 a in contact with the thermal conductive sheet 5 and at its upper side 90 d and lower side 90 c in contact with the holding sides 17 a, 17 a of the holding units 16, 16 respectively.

The upper side 16 e and the lower side 16 d of the holding unit 16 is arranged flush with both the upper side 10 d and the lower side 10 c of the front plate 10 and both the upper side 12 d and the lower side 12 c of the rear plate 12.

This allows the cooling jacket 90 in Embodiment 10 to be built in the wall assembly when simply joined to the rear plate 12. Also, since the thermally conductive sheet 5 bonded directly to the back side 4 a of the housing 4 stays in contact with the cooling jacket 90, the housing 4 of the display module 2 can efficiently be cooled down by the cooling jacket 90.

The cooling jackets 30, 32, 34, 40, 70 in Embodiments 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 may also be arranged equal in the construction to the cooling jacket 90 in Embodiment 10 of which the back side is joined directly to the rear plate 12.

The cooling pipe jackets 50, 60, 62 in Embodiments 6, 7, and 8 may also be arranged equal in the construction to the cooling jacket 90 in Embodiment 10 by securely joining their upper and lower sides of each back side of respective heat absorbers 52, 52, 63 to the rear plate 12.

The heat exchange medium employed in the cooling jackets and the cooling pipe jackets (the cooling units) in Embodiments 1 to 10 may be water or any alternatives for chlorofluorocarbon, for example. The water may be supplied from a local water supply system.

The heat exchange medium is circulated via the conduits 23 a, 23 b connecting with the cooling unit by a circulation pump 100 for passing through the cooling unit (See FIGS. 23, 25, and 26).

In case that the heat exchange medium is water, a water storage tank 102 is preferably provided for storing and supplying the water to the cooling unit (See FIGS. 23 and 26). As the water is stored in the water storage tank 102, its supply to the cooling unit can be controlled desirably to determine the optimum efficiency of the cooling action, thus improving the action of cooling the AV device at a higher efficiency.

Also, the supply of water from the circulation pump 100 to the cooling unit may be controlled using a detection signal from a temperature sensor 105 c mounted to the cooling unit.

This permits the supply of water to be effectively determined depending on the temperature of the cooling unit.

It is a good idea that a start switch 100 a of the circulation pump 100 for circulating the heat exchange medium is turned on in response to the turning on of the power switch of the thin, large screen television receiver. Alternatively, the start switch 100 a of the circulation pump 100 may be turned on in response to the detection signal from the temperature sensor 105 c.

A hot-water supply system will be described using the heat released from an AV device(s).

Embodiment 11

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 1, showing an arrangement of a wall assembly in the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the hot-water supply system located in a house. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of the hot-water supply system. FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a controller in the hot-water supply system.

In FIG. 21, the roof of a house is partially illustrated with the hatching partially eliminated.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11 utilizes the heat released from, for example, the display module 2 built in the wall assembly of any of the previous embodiments. In Embodiment 11, the cooling pipe jacket 50 in Embodiment 6 is specifically installed. The temperature sensor 105 c is also mounted to the heat absorber 52 in the cooling pipe jacket 50 for detecting the temperature of the interior of the wall assembly. The wall assembly with the built-in display module 2 constitutes the wall 1 in a room of an architecture (See FIGS. 1 and 21).

The hot-water supply system includes a circulation pump 100 for circulating a heat exchange medium via the conduits 23 a, 23 b in the cooling pipe 54 of the cooling pipe jacket 50, a water storage tank 102 where water received from a local water supply system is stored, a water circulation pump 104 for circulating water supplied from the water storage tank 102 to a piping 101, a heat exchanger 106 for transferring heat from the heat exchange medium in the conduit 23 b to water in the piping 101 thus to heat up the water, and a hot water container 108 for receiving water via a piping 103 from the water storage tank 102. The water storage tank 102 is equipped with a water temperature sensor 105 a for detecting the temperature of water and a water level detector 105 d for detecting the level of water. The heat exchanger 106 is equipped with a temperature sensor 105 b for detecting the temperature of the heat exchange medium.

The hot water container 108 contains a hot-water storage tank 108 a where the (hot) water is heated up using the electric energy at night which is less expensive.

The conduit 23 a is connected by an electromagnetic valve 109 a to the cooling pipe 54. The piping 103 is connected by another electromagnetic valve 109 b to the hot water container 108. The water from the local water supply system is fed via a further electromagnetic valve 109 c to the water storage tank 102.

The controller 110 in the hot-water supply system includes a CPU 112 as a control center, a memory 114 where control data and programs are saved, a control circuit 116 for controlling the action of the circulation pump 100 for circulating the heat exchange medium, the action of the water circulation pump 104 for circulating the water from the water storage tank 102 through the heat exchanger 106, and the action of the electromagnetic valves 109 a, 109 b, 109 c, and an input/output circuit 118 for controlling the input and output of control signals and detection signals. The on signal from a power switch 107 of the thin, large screen television receiver and the output signals from the water temperature sensor 105 a, the temperature sensor 105 b, the temperature sensor 105 c, and the water level detector 105 d are received by the input/output circuit 118 and processed by the CPU 112.

The action of the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11 together with a manner of supplying the heat exchange medium will then be described.

The action of the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11 starts with the control circuit 116 opening the electromagnetic valve 109 c to feed the water storage tank 102 with water. The water level signal from the water level detector 105 d is inputted from the input/output circuit 118 to the CPU 112. When the water storage tank 102 is filled up or fed with a desired amount of water, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to close the electromagnetic valve 109 c.

When the power switch 107 of the thin, large screen television receiver is turned on to drive the display module 2, its on signal is received by the input/output circuit 118 and inputted to the CPU 112. The CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to open the electromagnetic valve 109 a in response to the action of the power switch 107 and then start the circulation pump 100. The action of the circulation pump 100 allows the heat exchange medium to flow from the conduit 23 a across the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50 to the conduit 23 b and the heat exchanger 106 for circulation.

Then, the control circuit 116 drives the water circulation pump 104 for feeding the water from the water storage tank 102 to the piping 101 and the heat exchanger 106 for circulation.

Meanwhile, the heat exchange medium runs through the cooling pipe 54 to deprive heat from and cool down the display module 2 arranged in contact with the cooling pipe jacket 50.

If the action of cooling down the display module 2 is not satisfied, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to increase the delivery output of the circulation pump 100 in response to the detection signal from the temperature sensor 105 c.

The heat exchange medium receiving the heat is conveyed to the heat exchanger 106 where its heat is transferred to the water which is then turned to hot water. As the water has been passed through the heat exchanger 106 by the action of the water circulation pump 104, its storage is turned to hot water in the water storage tank 102.

When the temperature of the hot water stops rising and drops down, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to cancel the action of the water circulation pump 104 in response to the detection signal from the water temperature sensor 105 a.

When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 105 b in the heat exchanger 106 is higher than the hot water, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to drive the water circulation pump 104 in response to the detection signal from the temperature sensor 105 b for circulating water through the heat exchanger 106.

Finally, when the power switch 107 of the thin, large-screen television receiver is turned off to stop the display module 2, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to cancel the action of both the circulation pump 100 and the water circulation pump 104 in response to the turning off of the power switch 107.

When the time at night comes to a setting moment, the control circuit 116 opens the electromagnetic valve 109 b and drives the hot water container 108. The hot water container 108 feeds hot water from the water storage tank 102 to its hot-water storage tank 108 a. When the hot-water storage tank 108 a is filled up or fed with a desired amount of hot water, the control circuit 116 closes the electromagnetic valve 109 b in response to the control signal from the hot water container 108. Using a night electric power, the hot water container 108 heats up the hot water to a desired degree and saves its heated water in the hot-water storage tank 108 a.

When the supply of hot water from the hot-water storage tank 108 a is requested, as shown in FIG. 22, the hot-water supply system conveys the hot water from the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108 to a bath 120, a kitchen 122, or the like.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 11 allows the hot water to be produced from the heat released from the AV device or namely the display module 2 in the thin, large-screen television receiver. Since the hot water is saved in the water storage tank 102, its supply at a desire temperature can be conveyed to the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108 at high efficiency. Because a desired amount of boiled water is produced from the hot water at the temperature stored in the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108, its requiring energy will be minimized.

It is also possible in Embodiment 11 that when its temperature rises up to a predetermined degree in the water storage tank 102, the hot water is transferred to the hot-water storage tank 108 a. Then, the water circulation pump 104 is turned on to circulate water across the heat exchanger 106 when the water storage tank 102 has once again been filled up or fed with a desired amount of water.

The CPU 112 may control the control circuit 116 to drive the circulation pump 100 in response to the detection signal from the temperature sensor 105 c which represents the temperature in the wall assembly or the temperature of the cooling jacket 20.

Embodiment 12

FIG. 25 is a schematic view of a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 12.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 12 is differentiated from Embodiment 11 by the fact that the water storage tank 102 is eliminated while the other arrangements are equal to those of Embodiment 11.

Like arrangements and actions as those of Embodiment 11 will be explained in no more detail as for the other embodiments.

In Embodiment 12, the heat released from, for example, a display module 2 built in the wall assembly is utilized for changing water to hot water which is then stored in the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108. The hot-water storage tank 108 a is equipped with a water temperature sensor 105 a and a water level detector 105 d.

In the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 12, when the power switch 107 of a thin, large-screen television receiver is turned on to drive the display module 2, its on signal is received by the input/output circuit 118 and inputted to the CPU 112. The CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to open the electromagnetic valve 109 a in response to the action of the power switch 107 and then start the circulation pump 100. The action of the circulation pump 100 allows the heat exchange medium to flow from the conduit 23 a across the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50 to the conduit 23 b and the heat exchanger 106 for circulation.

Then, the control circuit 116 drives the circulation pump 100 and opens the electromagnetic valve 109 c for feeding the water from the piping 101 across the heat exchanger 106 to the hot-water storage tank 108 a.

Meanwhile, the heat exchange medium runs through the cooling pipe 54 to deprive heat from and cool down the display module 2 arranged in contact with the cooling pipe jacket 50.

If the action of cooling down the display module 2 is not satisfied, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to increase the delivery output of the circulation pump 100 in response to the detection signal from the temperature sensor 105 c.

The heat exchange medium receiving the heat is conveyed to the heat exchanger 106 where its heat is transferred to the water which is then turned to hot water received by the hot-water storage tank 108 a. The hot water is then saved in the hot-water storage tank 108 a.

Finally, when the power switch 107 of the thin, large-screen television receiver is turned off to stop the display module 2, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to close both the electromagnetic valves 109 b and 109 c and stop the action of the circulation pump 100 in response to the turning off of the power switch 107.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 12 allows the heat released from the AV device or the display module 2 of the thin, large-screen television receiver to be utilized for producing hot water. Because a desired amount of boiled water is produced from the hot water stored in the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108, its requiring energy will be minimized.

Embodiment 13

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13 utilizes the heat released from, for example, a display module 2 built in the wall assembly. In Embodiment 13, the cooling pipe jacket 50 in Embodiment 6 is built in the wall assembly while the heat change medium is water.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13 includes a controller 110 similar to that in Embodiment 11. The hot-water supply system also includes a water storage tank 102 for storing water received form a local water supply system and a circulation pump 100 for conveying water from the water storage tank 102 across the conduit 23 a to the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50.

The water released from the cooling pipe 54 runs back from the conduit 23 b to the upper of the water storage tank 102, and is conveyed from the piping 103 across the electromagnetic valve 109 b to the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108.

The water storage tank 102 is equipped with a water level detector 105 d for detecting the level of water. The water saved in the water storage tank 102 is received via an electromagnetic valve 109 c from a local water supply system.

The conduit 23 a is connected by an electromagnetic valve 109 a to the cooling pipe 54.

The controller 110 in the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13 is identical in the arrangement to that in Embodiment 11.

In the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13, the control circuit 116 opens the electromagnetic valve 109 c for feeding the water storage tank 102 with water. The water level signal from the water level detector 105 d is received by the input/output circuit 118 and inputted to the CPU 112. In response to the detection signal from the water level detector 105 d, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to open and close the electromagnetic valve 109 c so that the water storage tank 102 remains filled up or fed with a desired amount of water.

When the power switch 107 of a thin, large-screen television receiver is turned on to drive the display module 2, its on signal is received by the input/output circuit 118 and inputted to the CPU 112. The CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to open the electromagnetic valve 109 a in response to the action of the power switch 107 and then start the circulation pump 100. The action of the circulation pump 100 allows the water to flow from the conduit 23 a into the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50.

In the cooling pipe 54, the water receives heat from the display module 2 and turns to hot water which is then released form the cooling pipe 54, returned across the conduit 23 b to the upper of the water storage tank 102, and further conveyed across the piping 103 and the electromagnetic valve 109 b to the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108.

In response to the detection signal from the water-level detector 105 d, the CPU 112 controls the opening and closing action of the electromagnetic valves 109 b and 109 c for controlling the input and output of water on the water storage tank 102.

Finally, when the power switch 107 of the thin, large-screen television receiver is turned off to stop the display module 2, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to cancel the action of the circulation pump 100 in response to the turning off of the power switch 107 and close all the electromagnetic valves 109 a, 109 b, and 109 c.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 13 allows the heat released from the AV device or the display module 2 of the thin, large-screen television receiver to be utilized for producing hot water. Because a desired amount of boiled water is produced from the hot water stored in the hot-water storage tank 108 a, its requiring energy will be minimized.

Embodiment 14

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a structural arrangement of a hot-water supply system of Embodiment 14.

In the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 14, water is supplied from the conduit 23 a to the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50 by the action of the electromagnetic valve 109 a. The water released from the cooling pipe 54 is conveyed across the conduit 23 b and the electromagnetic valve 109 b to the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108.

In the hot-water supply system of Embodiment 14, when the power switch 107 of a thin, large-screen television receiver is turned on to drive the display module 2, its on signal is received by the input/output circuit 118 and inputted to the CPU 112. The CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to open the electromagnetic valve 109 a in response to the action of the power switch 107. The opening action of the electromagnetic valve 109 a allows the water to flow across the conduit 23 a into the cooling pipe 54 in the cooling pipe jacket 50. The water entering the cooling pipe 54 receives heat from the display module 2 and turns to hot water which is then released from the cooling pipe 54 and conveyed across the conduit 23 b to the hot-water storage tank 108 a in the hot water container 108.

Finally, when the power switch 107 of the thin, large-screen television receiver is turned off to stop the display module 2, the CPU 112 controls the control circuit 116 to close the electromagnetic valve 109 a in response to the turning off of the power switch 107 and then shut of the electromagnetic valve 109 a.

The hot-water supply system of Embodiment 14 allows the heat released from the AV device or the display module 2 of the thin, large-screen television receiver to be utilized for producing hot water. Because a desired amount of boiled water is produced from the hot water stored in the hot-water storage tank 108 a with the use of heat released from the AV device, its requiring energy will be minimized.

Embodiment 15

FIG. 28 is a perspective view schematically showing an architecture wall assembly 1 of Embodiment 15, FIG. 29 is a six-side view of the architecture wall assembly 1001, and FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of the architecture wall assembly 1001. The architecture wall assembly 1001 of Embodiment 15 includes a wall base structure 1002, a front base board 1003 (a cover plate, a front cover plate) arranged for detachably covering the front side of the wall base structure 1002, a rear base board 1004 (a cover plate, a rear cover plate) arranged to cover the back side of the wall base structure 1002, and a display device 1006 installed in the wall. The front side represents an exposed side where the display screen 1061 of the display device 1006 is exposed.

FIG. 31 is a six-side view of the wall base structure 1002. The wall base structure 1002 includes a pair of columnar members 1021 arranged substantially in parallel with each other along the lengthwise direction and a holding member 1022 bridged between the two columnar members 1021 for holding the display device 1006 with its display screen 1061 facing the front.

The columnar members 1021 are of substantially a square column shape and made from a material, such as steel or wood, which is capable of supporting the display device 1006 of a large size. One of the columnar members 1021 has screw holes 1021 a provided in both upper and lower portions of the front side thereof for screw tightening a hinge 1005 joined with the front base board 1003 (See FIG. 32). The other columnar member 1021 has magnets 1026 embedded in both upper and lower portions of the front side thereof for magnetically holding the front base board 1003 to the columnar member 1021.

The holding member 1022 is joined at both lateral ends to the two columnar members 1021 and incorporated with a plate member 1023 extending between two, upper and lower, ends of the columnar members 1021. The plate member 1023 is made from a rigid material, such as steel, for supporting the display device 1006 of a large size. The plate member 1023 has an opening 1023 a of a rectangular shape provided in substantially the center thereof along the transverse direction at a proper location along the up and down direction in which the display device 1006 is accommodated. A pair of clamping members 1024 and 1025 are mounted at the upper and lower portions respectively of the opening 1023 a of the plate member 1023 for clamping the display device 1006 accommodated in the opening 1023 a from upper and lower. The clamping members 1024, 1025 are of a planar plate shape extending from the upper and lower portions of the opening 1023 a respectively in both the frontward and rearward directions substantially perpendicular to the plate member 1023, and are integrally formed with the plate member 1023. Each of the clamping members 1024, 1025 has three screw holes 1024 a, 1025 a provided along the transverse direction on the front side thereof for joining the display device 1006 and a set of ventilation holes 1024 c, 1025 c (air flow holes) provided on the rear side thereof for ventilating the display device 1006. Also, a square air intake tube 1027 is mounted to a part of the plate member 1023, which faces an air inlet 1035 provided in the front base board 1003, which will be explained later, for introducing the air from the air inlet 1035 to the back side of the plate member 1023.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view schematically showing the architecture wall assembly 1001 with its front base board 1003 remaining opened. The front base board 1003 is of a lengthwisely extending, substantially rectangular shape for covering from front the columnar members 1021 and the holding member 1022. The front base board 1003 is made from, for example, a wooden board, a cement board, a gypsum board, or a steel board. The front base board 1003 has a rectangular window 1031 provided therein at the front of the display device 1006 to be held by the holding member 1022. The window 1031 is formed of, for example, a transparent resin plate. Also, the front base board 1003 is mounted by the hinge 1005 to one of the columnar members 1021 for opening and closing. More specifically, the hinge 1005 made from two metal halves is screwed at one half into the screw holes 1034 to join with the back side of the front base board 1003 and joined at the other half to the columnar member 1021 by screws. Moreover, the front base board 1003 has a set of magnets 1033 mounted to both, upper and lower, portions of the back side thereof for magnetically holding the front base board 1003 to the columnar member 1021. The front base board 1003 has a remote-control signal passing aperture 1032 provided therein beneath the window 1031 for passing a remote-control signal, for example, at an infrared ray form to remotely control the action of the display device 1006. The remote-control signal passing aperture 1032 is formed of an infrared ray transmissible resin or silicon plate. The remote-control signal passing aperture 1032 may be simply an opening. Moreover, the front base board 1003 has the air inlet 1035 provided in the lower at one end thereof.

The rear base board 1004 is of a vertically extending, rectangular shape for covering the columnar members 1021 and the holding member 1022 from the back. The rear base board 1004 is made from, for example, a wooden board, a cement board, a gypsum board, or a steel board.

The space defined by the plate member 1023, the rear base board 1004, and the columnar members 1021 acts as an air passage 1029 through which the air flows from the lower to the upper of the display device 1006 (See FIG. 36). The opening defined at the upper end by the plate member 1023, the rear base board 1004, and the two columnar members 1021 serves as an outlet 1028 for releasing the air passed through the air passage 1029.

The display device 1006 may be a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or an organic EL display. For example, the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display module of substantially a parallelepiped shape with its display screen 1061 provided at the front and a cabinet 1062 for covering the back side and lateral sides of the liquid crystal display module.

The liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel, a back light unit for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel from the back by an area lighting mode, a power source circuit mounted to the back side of the back light unit, and an optical sheet interposed between the back light unit and the liquid crystal display panel.

The cabinet 1062 includes a front cabinet 1063 for covering the lateral sides of the liquid crystal display module and a rear cabinet 1064 for covering the back side of the liquid crystal display module. The front cabinet 1063 has a remote-control signal passing aperture 1065 provided at lower therein for receiving the remote-control signal. The rear cabinet 1064 has both, upper and lower, flat sides thereof arranged in surface contact with the clamping members 1024, 1025 respectively. A row of three screw holes 1064 a are provided along the transverse direction in each of the upper and lower sides for joining the display device 1006 to the clamping members 1024, 1025 so that the display screen 1061 stays at the rear of the front base board 1003.

FIGS. 33A to 33C are schematic views explaining air cooling construction details of the display device 1006. FIG. 33A is a side view of the architecture wall assembly 1001, FIG. 33B is a back view of the display device 1006, and FIG. 33C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 1006 side. As shown in FIGS. 33B and 33C, the rear cabinet 1064 has a pair of ventilation openings 1064 a, 1064 b of lengthwisely extending rectangular shape, provided in upper and lower parts on the back side thereof Accordingly, the air entering the lower of the architecture wall assembly 1001 flows into the lower ventilation opening 1064 a and passes through the interior of the display device 1006 before moving out from the upper ventilation opening 1064 b for cooling down the display device 1006.

Some applications of the architecture wall assembly 1001 will now be described.

FIGS. 34A and 34B are perspective views schematically showing the architecture wall assembly 1001 before and after the installation of a display device 1006 in the wall assembly. FIG. 34A illustrates the architecture wall assembly 1001 before the installation of the display device 1006 where the window 1031 is not provided in the front base board 1003. FIG. 34B illustrates the architecture wall assembly 1001 after the installation of the display device 1006. More particularly, when the front base board 1003 of the architecture wall assembly 1001 has been opened by a user or a specialist for the installation, the display device 1006 is placed between the two clamping members 1024, 1025 and clamped by screws 1024 b, 1025 b to the clamping members 1024, 1025. With the front base board 1003 closed, the display device 1006 stays installed in the wall assembly.

FIG. 35 is a schematic view showing an architecture where one application of the architecture wall assembly 1001 is provided. FIG. 36 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing the application of the architecture wall assembly 1001. The architecture is composed mainly of a ventilation device 1081 for ventilating the room, a dust 1082 for communicating between the ventilation device 1081 and the air outlet 1028 of the architecture wall assembly 1001, and another duct 1084 for communicating between the ventilation device 1081 and the outside of the architecture.

In the architecture with the architecture wall assembly 1001 installed, when the ventilation device 1081 is driven, the air is taken from the air inlet 1035 and conveyed through the intake tube 1027 and the air passage 1029 as running from the lower to the upper of the air passage 1029 in the wall assembly, as shown in FIG. 36. As the air runs along the back side of the display device 1006, it can cool down the display device 1006. The air passed along the back side of the display device 1006 is then discharged from the air outlet 1028 of the wall assembly. The air discharged from the air outlet 1028 is conveyed to the outside by the ventilation device 1081.

FIG. 37 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing another application of an architecture where the architecture wall assembly 1001 is provided. The architecture shown in FIG. 37 includes a ventilation device 1083 equipped with a heat exchanger and mounted to the roof. The architecture wall assembly 1001 is connected by a duct 1082 to the ventilation device 1083. Also, the ventilation device 1083 is communicated by a duct 1085 to the outside of the architecture.

The architecture having the foregoing arrangement allows heat released from the display device 1006 to be utilized for ventilating. For example, the air taken from the outside is heated by the heat released from the display device 1006 and then distributed to each room.

The architecture wall assembly 1001 where the display device 1006 is integrally built in can thus eliminate at once various drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat of an AV device(s).

Also, in combination with an existing ventilation device, the display device 1006 in the wall assembly can effectively be cooled down.

Since the display device 1006 is securely accommodated in the opening 1023 a provided in the plate member of the holding member 1022 extended from top to bottom between the columnar members 1021 thus to be held by the holding member 1022, its weight puts a load on the basement or the lowermost of the architecture wall assembly 1001. This allows a large size of the display device 1006 to be installed.

Moreover, since the display device 1006 is securely held at both, upper and lower, sides between the clamping members 1024, 1025 and clamped by the screws 1024 b, 1025 b to the clamping members 1024, 1025 respectively, it can effectively be prevented from falling off or down from the holding member 1022.

Moreover, since the holding member 1022 is of a plate form extended from top to bottom between the columnar members 1021 and securely joined to both the columnar members 1021, its falling down together with the display device 1006 can be avoided effectively.

Moreover, since the front base board 1003 is joined by the hinge 1005 to the columnar member 1021 for opening and closing, it can be opened up as a door by the user, when desired, for carrying out maintenance for the display device 1006. The display device 1006 can also be replaced with another. The display device 1006 can be mounted to the architecture wall assembly 1001 after the installation of the architecture wall assembly 1001 with no AV device.

Moreover, since the front base board 1003 is magnetically held by the effect of the magnets to the columnar member 1021, its simple arrangement can create a lock mechanism.

Moreover, since the display device 1006 is joined to the holding member 1022 by the screws 1024 b, 1025 b located on the front side of the architecture wall assembly 1001, its installation or maintenance can easily be carried out by the user from the front side where the front base board 1003 is opened.

Moreover, since the front base board 1003 and the rear base board 1004 are made from a typical gypsum board, the wall assembly can be fabricated at lower cost.

Although the front base board is arranged for opening and closing, it may simply be fabricated of a detachable type. For example, while the front base board is provided with magnets mounted on both ends of the back side, corresponding magnets are mounted to the front sides of the columnar members.

(Modification 1)

FIG. 38 is a perspective view schematically showing Modification 1 of the architecture wall assembly as denoted by 1101. FIG. 39 is a perspective view schematically showing the architecture wall assembly 1101 of Modification 1 where the display device 1006 is removed. FIG. 40 is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly 1101 of Modification 1. The architecture wall assembly 1101 of Modification 1 is equipped with a wall body 1102 which has an accommodating recess 1102 d of a rectangular shape in the cross section provided in the front side 1102 a thereof for accommodating the display device 1006.

The wall body 1102 has an air inlet 1127 provided beneath the accommodating recess 1102 d in the front side thereof. The wall body 1102 also has an inlet side passage 1102 b provided therein for conveying the air introduced from the air inlet 1127 into the rear lower end of the accommodating recess 1102 d.

The wall body 1102 has an air outlet 1128 provided above the accommodating recess 1102 d in the front side thereof The wall body 1102 also has an outlet side passage 1102 c provided therein for conveying the air from the rear upper end of the accommodating recess 1102 d to the air outlet 1128.

In Modification 1, the drawbacks including the installation trouble, the falling down, the dropping down, and the radiation of heat of an AV device can be eliminated at once.

(Modification 2)

FIG. 41 is a perspective view schematically showing an architecture wall assembly 1201 of Modification 2 where the front base board 1003 is opened up, FIG. 42 is a six-side view of the architecture wall assembly 1201 of Modification 2, and FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the architecture wall assembly 1201 of Modification 2. The architecture wall assembly 1201 is arranged for holding an existing indoor display device 1206 therein.

The holding member 1222 in a wall base structure in Modification 2 is joined at both ends along the transverse direction between two columnar members 1021 and provided with a plate member 1223 extended from the upper end to the lower end of the columnar members 1021. The plate member 1223 has a rectangular opening 1023 a provided in substantially the center along the transverse direction at a proper location along the up and down direction thereof in which the display device 1206 is accommodated. The plate member 1223 also has three screw holes 1223 b, 1223 c provided therein along the transverse direction at each of the upper end and the lower end of the opening 1023 a. A pair of clamping members 1224, 1225 are joined from the front by screws 1224 f, 1225 f to the plate member 1223 at the upper end and the lower end of the opening 1023 a respectively.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view schematically showing the clamping member 1224 in Modification 2 and FIG. 45 is a six-side view of the clamping member 1224 in Modification 2. The back view is identical to the front view and not illustrated. The clamping member 1224 includes a transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a for covering the upper side of the display device 1206 and a side wall plate 1224 b extending downwardly from the lower side at the edge of the transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a, thus forming a shallow flat-bottomed dish shape to be placed on the upper side of the display device 1206. The size along the transverse direction of the transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a is substantially equal to that of the display device 1206 and that of the opening 1023 a. A mounted piece 1224 c is provided along substantially the vertical on the outer side of the transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a. The mounted piece 1224 c is located at substantially the center along the front to rear direction of the transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a and extended laterally between both ends of the transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a. The mounted piece 1224 c has three screw holes 1224 d provided therein along the transverse direction for joining by screws to the front side of the plate member 1223. The transversely extending rectangular plate 1224 a has ventilation apertures 1224 e (air flow apertures) provided in the rear side thereof for passing air to cool down the display device 1206.

The other clamping member 1225 is identical in the construction to the clamping member 1224. The other clamping member 1225 includes a transversely extending rectangular plate 1225 a, a side wall plate 1225 b, a mounted piece 1225 c, screw holes 1225 d, and ventilation apertures 1225 e (air flow apertures) and is joined by screws to the front side of the plate member 1223.

The architecture wall assembly 1201 of Modification 2 allows the display device 1206 to be securely held by the holding member 1222 regardless of the shape of the display device 1206.

(Modification 3)

FIG. 46 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an architecture built by an architecture wall assembly 1301 of Modification 3. The architecture wall assembly 1301 of Modification 3 includes a front base board 1303 which has an air inlet 1335 provided therein beneath the display device 1006 and an air outlet 1036 provided therein above the display device 1006.

The plate member 1323 of a holding member 1322 in Modification 3 has a square air intake tube 1327 mounted thereon at a location facing the air inlet 1335 for introducing the air from the air inlet 1335 to the back side of the plate member 1323. Also, the plate member 1323 has an air discharge tube 1328 mounted thereon at a location facing the air outlet 1036 for guiding the air passed through the air passage 1029 to the air outlet 1036.

In Modification 3, the air is introduced from the air inlet 1335 and the air intake tube 1327 to the air passage 1029 during the operation of the display device 1006. The air introduced flows from the lower to the upper along the back side of the display device 1006 in the air passage 1029 thus to cool down the display device 1006. The air passed along the back side of the display device 1006 is released from the air discharge tube 1328 and the air outlet 1036 into the room.

Accordingly, the architecture with no ventilation device allows the air to flow throughout the wall assembly, thus cooling down the display device 1006.

(Modification 4)

FIG. 47 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing a further architecture where Modification 4 of a structure wall assembly 1401 is provided. A front base board 1403 in the architecture wall assembly 1401 of Modification 4 has an air inlet 1335 provided therein beneath the display device 1006 and an air outlet 1036 provided therein above the display device 1006. Similarly, a rear base board 1404 in the architecture wall assembly 1401 has an air inlet 1045 provided therein at a location facing the air inlet 1335 in the front base board 1403 and an air outlet 1046 provided therein at a location facing the air outlet 1036 in the front base board 1403.

The plate member 1423 of a holding member 1422 in Modification 4 has a square air intake tube 1427 mounted thereon at a location facing the air inlet 1335 for introducing the air from the air inlet 1335 in the front base board 1403 to the back side of the plate member 1423. Also, the plate member 1423 has an air discharge tube 1428 mounted thereon at a location facing the air outlet 1036 in the front base board 1403 for guiding the air passed through the air passage 1029 to the air outlet 1036.

The architecture wall assembly 1401 also includes an air intake switching valve 1072 arranged for selecting the two air inlets 1335 and 1045 to introduce the air, an air discharge switching valve 1073 arranged for selecting the air outlets 1036 and 1046 to discharge the air, a front temperature sensor 1074 arranged for detecting the temperature at the outside of the front base board 1403 (referred to as a front temperature hereinafter), a rear temperature sensor 1075 arranged for detecting the temperature at the outside of the rear base board 1404 (referred to as a rear temperature hereinafter), and a controller 1071 arranged for controlling the action of the air intake switching valve 1072 and the air discharge switching valve 1073.

FIG. 48 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the controller 1071. The controller 1071 includes a CPU 1071 a for carrying out the arithmetic operation to control the air intake switching valve 1072 and the air discharge switching valve 1073. The CPU 1071 a is connected via a bus 1071 g to a ROM 1071 b for storing the programs required for operating the CPU 1071 a, a RAM 1071 c for storing data temporarily, a detector 1071 d for detecting the connection or disconnection of the display device 1006 to the power source, an input interface (input IF) 1071 f, and an output interface (output IF) 1071 e. The input interface 1071 f is also connected with the front temperature sensor 1074 and the rear temperature sensor 1075 while the output interface 1071 e is connected with the air intake switching valve 1072 and the air discharge switching valve 1073.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing steps of the process of the CPU 1071 a. The process of the CPU 1071 a starts with the detector 1071 d detecting whether or not the display device 1006 is connected to the power source (Step S11). When judging that the device is not connected (No in Step S11), the CPU 1071 a terminates its process. When judging that the device is connected (Yes in Step S11), the CPU 1071 a controls the front temperature sensor 1074 to detect the front temperature (Step S12) and the rear temperature sensor 1075 to detect the rear temperature (Step S13).

Then, the CPU 1071 a judges whether or not the front temperature is higher than the rear temperature (Step S14). When it is judged that the front temperature is higher than the rear temperature (Yes in Step S14), the air inlet 1045 in the rear base board 1404 is opened by the air intake switching valve 1072 (Step S15). Then, the CPU 1071 a judges whether or not the front temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature (Step S16). When judging that the front temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature (Yes in Step S16), the CPU 1071 a controls the air discharge switching valve 1073 to open the air outlet 1036 in the front base board 1403 (Step S17) before its process is terminated. When judging that the front temperature is not lower than the predetermined temperature (No in Step S16), the CPU 1071 a opens the air outlet 1046 in the rear base board 1404 (Step S18) and its process is terminated.

When it is judged in Step 14 that the front temperature is not higher than the rear temperature (No in Step S14), the air intake switching valve 1072 is switched for opening the air inlet 1335 in the front base board 1403 (Step S19). Then, the CPU 1071 a judges whether or not the rear temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature (Step S20). When judging that the rear temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature (Yes in Step S20), the CPU 1071 a controls the air discharge switching valve 1073 to open the air outlet 1046 in the rear base board 1404 (Step S21) before its action is terminated. When judging that the rear temperature is not lower than the predetermined temperature (No in Step S20), the CPU 1071 a opens the air outlet 1036 in the front base board 1403 (Step S22) and its process is terminated.

In Modification 4, the air inlets 1335, 1045 and the air outlets 1036, 1046 for introducing and discharging the air respectively are selectively opened depending on the temperature at the front and rear sides of the architecture wall assembly 1401. More specifically, the display device 1006 can effectively be cooled down by the air being introduced from one room at a lower temperature and released into the other room at a higher temperature. When a temperature in the room to which the air is to be released is higher than a predetermined temperature, the room to which the air is to be released is controlled so as not to stay higher by the air being introduced from the room at a lower temperature.

The air intake switching valve 1072 and the air discharge switching valve 1073 are controllably operated when the display device 1006 is turned on, their useless action can be prevented when the display device 1006 is turned off.

(Modification 5)

FIG. 50 is a side cross sectional view schematically showing an architecture where Modification 5 of a structure wall assembly 1501 is provided. A front base board 1303 in the architecture wall assembly 1501 of Modification 5 has an air inlet 1335 provided therein beneath the display device 1006 and an air outlet 1036 provided therein above the display device 1006.

The plate member 1323 of a holding member 1322 in Modification 5 has a square air intake tube 1327 mounted thereon at a location facing the air inlet 1335 for introducing the air from the air inlet 1335 in the front base board 1303 to the back side of the plate member 1323. Also, the plate member 1323 has an air discharge tube 1328 mounted thereon at a location facing the air outlet 1036 in the front base board 1303 for guiding the air passed through the air passage 1029 to the air outlet 1036.

The architecture wall assembly 1501 also includes an air intake fan 1077 provided across the air passage in the air inlet 1335 and the air intake tube 1327. Similarly, the architecture wall assembly 1501 also includes an air discharge fan 1078 provided across the air passage in the air outlet 1036 and the air discharge tube 1328. Moreover, the architecture wall assembly 1501 includes a temperature sensor 1076 arranged for detecting the temperature in the air passage 1029 and a controller 1071 arranged for controlling the action of the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of the controller 1071. The controller 1071 similar to that in Modification 4 includes a CPU 1071 a, a ROM 1071 b, a RAM 1071 c, a detector 1071 d, an input interface 1071 f, and an output interface 1071 e all connected via a bus 1071 g. The input interface 1071 f is also connected with the temperature sensor 1076 while the output interface 1071 e is connected with the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing steps of the process of the CPU 1071 a. The process of the CPU 1071 a starts with the detector 1071 d detecting whether or not the display device 1006 is connected to the power source (Step S31). When judging that the device is connected (Yes in Step S31), the CPU 1071 a controls the temperature sensor 1076 to detect the temperature (Step S32).

Then, the CPU 1071 a judges whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 1076 is higher than a predetermined temperature (Step S33). When judging that the temperature is higher (Yes in Step S33), the CPU 1071 a drives the air intake fan 1077 at a rotating speed corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 1076 (Step S34) and also drives the air discharge fan 1078 (Step S35) before its process is terminated.

When judging in Step S31 that the display device 1006 is not connected (No in Step S31) or in Step S33 that the temperature is not higher than the predetermined temperature (No in Step S33), the CPU 1071 a cancels the action of the air intake fan 1077 (Step S36) and the action of the air discharge fan 1078 (Step S37) and its process is terminated.

In Modification 5, the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078 are arranged for effectively conducting the action of introducing and discharging the air, whereby the display device 1006 can be cooled down.

The action of the fans is controlled in response to the detection result of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 1076 which detects the temperature in the wall assembly. More particularly, since both the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078 are selectively controlled for the start and stop action as well as the number of their revolutions depending on the temperature in the wall, the display device 1006 can be cooled down effectively.

Moreover, the controller 1071 is arranged for determining whether or not the display device 1006 is connected with the power source and then starting the action of both the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078 when the display device 1006 is connected and the generation of heat is excessive, or canceling the action of both the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078 when the display device 1006 is disconnected and the generation of heat is not excessive. This allows both the air intake fan 1077 and the air discharge fan 1078 to be switched on and off depending on the requirement for cooling down the display device 1006.

(Modification 6)

FIGS. 53A to 53C schematically illustrate an air cooling construction detail of the architecture wall assembly showing Modification 6. FIG. 53A is a side cross sectional views of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 53B is a back view of a display device 1006, and FIG. 53C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 1006 side. As shown in FIGS. 53B and 53C, the rear cabinet 1064 of the display device 1006 has a pair of lengthwisely extending rectangular ventilation openings 1064 a, 1064 b provided in upper and lower parts of the back side thereof. In FIG. 53C, the ventilation openings 1064 a, 1064 b in the display device 1006 are denoted by the dotted lines as located at the front (the frontward side of the page). Also, the architecture wall assembly has a guide member 1609 mounted to the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air into the ventilation opening 1064 a during its flow from the lower to the upper of the air passage. The guide member 1609 is of a plate form which is shaped to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member 1022 side thereof at a location facing the display device 1006 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the display device 1006 and two ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

In Modification 6, as the air lifted up from the lower of the air passage is guided by the guide member 1609 towards the back side of the display device 1006, the display device 1006 can be cooled down effectively.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 54 schematically illustrates air cooling construction details of Modification 7 of the architecture wall assembly. More specifically, FIG. 54 is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 1006 side. The architecture wall assembly of Modification 7 has a guide member 1709 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage, into the ventilation opening 1064 a. The guide member 1709 is of a plate form for blocking the air passages at both sides of the display device 1006 respectively.

Modification 7 can thus provide the same effect as of Modification 6 with the use of less materials.

(Modification 8)

FIGS. 55A to 55C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 8 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 55A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 55B is a back view of a display device 1006, and FIG. 55C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 1006 side. The arrangement of the display device 1006 is equal to that in Modification 6.

The architecture wall assembly of Modification 8 has a partition member 1891 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for separating the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 1064 a side at the lower. The partition member 1891 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 55C, of a square column form and placed on substantially the center along the up and down direction of the back side of the display device 1006 with its lengthwise direction extending transversely. Also, the partition member 1891 is positioned to separate the air passage into the upper side and the lower side, extending over the distance between the two columnar members 1021.

In Modification 8, since the warm air released from the upper ventilation opening 1064 b is inhibited from moving back into the lower ventilation opening 1064 a, the display device 1006 can be cooled down at higher effectiveness.

(Modification 9)

FIGS. 56A to 56C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 9 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 56A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 56B is a back view of a display device 1006, and FIG. 56C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 1006 side. The arrangement of the display device 1006 is equal to that in Modification 6.

The architecture wall assembly of Modification 9 has a guide member 1909 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 a. The guide member 1909 is of a plate form which is shaped to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member 1022 side thereof at a location facing the display device 1006 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the display device 1006 and two ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof Also, the guide member 1909 is coupled integrally with a partition member 1991 for separating the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 1064 a side at the lower.

In Modification 9, since the air lifted up from the lower of the air passage is guided by the guide member 1909 towards the back side of the display device 1006, the display device 1006 can be cooled down effectively.

In addition, the warm air released from the upper ventilation opening 1064 b is inhibited from moving back into the lower ventilation opening 1064 a, the display device 1006 can be cooled down at higher effectiveness.

(Modification 10)

FIG. 57 schematically illustrates an air cooling construction detail of Modification 10 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 57 is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from a display device 1006 side. The architecture wall assembly of Modification 10 includes guide members 2009 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 a and a partition member 2091 for separating the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 1064 a side at the lower, those members mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004.

The guide members 2009 are of a plate form as sized to block the air passages at both sides of the display device 1006 respectively. The guide members 2009 are coupled integrally with the partition member 2091 of a plate form which is sized to separate the air passage into the ventilation opening 1064 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 1064 a side at the lower. Also, the partition member 2091 of the plate form is positioned on substantially the center along the up and down direction of the back side of the display device 1006 with its lengthwise direction along the transverse direction as extending transversely over the distance between the two guide members 2009.

Modification 10 can provide the same effect as of Modification 9 with the use of less materials.

(Modification 11)

FIGS. 58A to 58E schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 11 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 58A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 58B is a back view of a display device 2106, FIG. 58C is a plan view of the display device 2106, FIG. 58D is a bottom view of the display device 2106, and FIG. 58E is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2106 side. The display device 2106 includes a front cabinet 1063 for covering the lateral sides of its liquid crystal display module and a rear cabinet 2164 for covering the back side of the liquid crystal display module. The rear cabinet 2164 has a back side of a transversely extending rectangular shape, an upper side 2164 d, a lower side 2164 c, and lateral sides which are arranged substantially perpendicular to the back side. The back side, upper side 2164 d, lower side 2164 c, and lateral sides build a square dish form. The upper side 2164 d and the lower side 2164 c have transversely extending rectangular ventilation openings 2164 a, 2164 b provided therein. The back side is arranged in surface contact with the rear base board 1004.

The architecture wall assembly also includes guide members 2109 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 2164 a. The guide members 2109 are of a plate shape for blocking the air passages at both sides of the display device 2106 respectively.

In Modification 11, the air lifted up from the lower of the air passage is guided by the guide members 2109 towards the lower side 2164 c of the display device 2106 and moved into the ventilation opening 2164 a in the lower side 2164 c. The air passed through the interior of the display device 2106 is then released out from the ventilation opening 2164 b in the upper side 2164 d. Accordingly, the display device 2106 can be cooled down more effectively than the display device with its rear cabinet 2164 having the ventilation opening in the back side.

(Modification 12)

FIGS. 59A to 59E schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 12 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 59A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 59B is a back view of a display device 2106, FIG. 59C is a plan view of the display device 2106, FIG. 59D is a bottom view of the display device 2106, and FIG. 59E is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2106 side. The arrangement of the display device 2106 is equal to that in Modification 11.

The architecture wall assembly has a guide member 2209 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into a ventilation opening 2164 a. The guide member 2209 is of a plate form which is shaped to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member 1022 side thereof at a location facing the display device 2106 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the display device 2106 and two ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

In Modification 12 similar to Modification 11, the air lifted up from the lower of the air passage is guided by the guide member 2209 towards the lower side 2164 c of the display device 2106 and moved into the ventilation opening 2164 a in the lower side 2164 c. The air passed through the interior of the display device 2106 is then released out from the ventilation opening 2164 b in the upper side 2164 d. Accordingly, the display device 2106 can be cooled down more effectively than the display device with its rear cabinet 2164 having the ventilation opening in the back side.

(Modification 13)

FIGS. 60A to 60C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 13 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 60A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 60B is a back view of a display device 2306, and FIG. 60C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2306 side.

The display device 2306 includes a power source circuit 2366 for driving a liquid crystal display module. The display device 2306 also includes a rear cabinet 2364 having ventilation openings 2364 a, 2364 b provided in both the lower and upper sides thereof beneath and above the power source circuit 2366 respectively.

The architecture wall assembly has a guide member 2309 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 2364 a located close the back side of the power source circuit 2366. The guide member 2309 is of a plate form which is shaped to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member 1022 side thereof at a location facing the power source circuit 2366 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the power source circuit 2366 and two ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

In Modification 13, with its power source circuit 2366 as a heat generating source cooled down intensively, the display device 2306 held by the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

(Modification 14)

FIG. 61 is a schematic view illustrating an air cooling construction detail of Modification 14 of the architecture wall assembly. The arrangement of the display device 2306 is equal to that in Modification 13. The architecture wall assembly has a guide member 2409 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 2364 a. The guide member 2409 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 61, of a plate shape which is sized to block the air passages at both sides of the display device 2306 and the power source circuit 2366 respectively.

In Modification 14 similar to Modification 13, with its power source circuit 2366 as a heat generating source cooled down intensively, the display device 2306 held by the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

(Modification 15)

FIGS. 62A to 62C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 15 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 62A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 62B is a back view of a display device 2306, and FIG. 62C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2306 side. The arrangement of the display device 2306 is equal to that in Modification 13.

The architecture wall assembly includes a guide member 2509 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into the ventilation opening 2364 a. The guide member 2509 is of a plate form which is shaped to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly. The guide member 2509 is coupled integrally with a partition member 2591 provided for separating the air passage into the ventilation opening 2364 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 2364 a side at the lower.

In Modification 15, with its power source circuit 2366 as a heat generating source cooled down intensively, the display device 2306 held by the wall assembly can be cooled down more effectively.

In addition, the warm air flown out from the ventilation opening 2364 b at the upper can be prevented from moving back into the ventilation opening 2364 a at the lower, thus ensuring the action of more effectively cooling down the display device 2306.

(Modification 16)

FIG. 63 schematically illustrates an air cooling construction detail of Modification 16 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 63 is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from a display device 2306 side. The architecture wall assembly of Modification 16 includes a guide member 2609 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into a ventilation opening 2364 a. The guide member 2609 is of a plate form as sized to block the air passages at both sides of the display device 2306 and the power source circuit 2366 respectively. The guide member 2609 is coupled integrally with a partition member 2691 of a plate form which is sized to separate the air passage into the ventilation opening 2364 b side at the upper and the ventilation opening 2364 a side at the lower.

Modification 16 can provide the same effect as of Modification 15.

(Modification 17)

FIGS. 64A to 64E schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 17 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 64A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 64B is a back view of a display device 2706, FIG. 64C is a plan view of the display device 2706, FIG. 64D is a bottom view of the display device 2706, and FIG. 64E is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2706 side. As shown in FIG. 64B, the display device 2706 includes a power source circuit 2766 for driving a liquid crystal module and a rear cabinet 2764. The rear cabinet 2764 has a substantially rectangular, hollow projection 2764 e projected on the back side thereof at a location facing the power source circuit 2766. The projection 2764 e has a rectangular back side, an upper side 2764 g, a lower side 2764 f, and lateral sides which are arranged substantially perpendicular to the back side. The upper side 2764 g and the lower side 2764 f have transversely extending rectangular ventilation openings 2764 a, 2764 b provided therein. The back side is arranged in surface contact with the rear base board 1004.

The architecture wall assembly also includes guide members 2709 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into a ventilation opening 2764 a. The guide members 2709 are of a plate shape for blocking the air passages at both sides of the rear cabinet 2764 and the projection 2764 e respectively.

In Modification 17, the air lifted up from the lower of the air passage is guided by the guide members 2709 towards the lower side 2764 f of the projection 2764 e and moved into the ventilation opening 2764 a in-the lower side 2764 f. The air passed through the interior of the display device 2706 is then released out from the ventilation opening 2764 b in the upper side 2764 g. Accordingly, with its power source circuit 2766 cooled down intensively, the display device 2706 can be cooled down more effectively than the display device with its rear cabinet 2764 having the ventilation opening in the back side.

In addition, the warm air flown out from the ventilation opening 2764 b at the upper can be prevented from moving back into the ventilation opening 2764 a at the lower, thus ensuring the action of more effectively cooling down the display device 2706.

(Modification 18)

FIGS. 65A to 65E schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 18 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 65A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 65B is a back view of a display device 2706, FIG. 65C is a plan view of the display device 2706, FIG. 65D is a bottom view of the display device 2706, and FIG. 65E is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2706 side. The arrangement of the display device 2706 is equal to that in Embodiment 17.

The architecture wall assembly has a guide member 2809 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage into a ventilation opening 2764 a. The guide member 2809 is of a plate form as sized to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member 1022 side thereof at a location facing the projection 2764 e as sized substantially equal to the shape of the projection 2764 e and two ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

Modification 18 can provide the same effect as of Modification 17.

(Modification 19)

FIGS. 66A to 66C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 19 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 66A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 66B is a back view of a display device 2906, and FIG. 66C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2906 side. The display device 2906 in Modification 19 is not equipped with a rear cabinet but exposed to the rear base board 1004 and, instead, has a heat radiating plate 2966 (heat radiating member) for radiating the heat generated from the display device. The heat radiating plate 2966 is of a rectangular shape which is substantially equal in the horizontal and vertical dimensions and the size to the display device 2906.

In Modification 19, since the heat radiating plate 2966 is exposed to the rear base board 1004 with no use of a rear cabinet, the display device 2906 can be cooled down as more effectively as directly by the air which runs through the air passage.

(Modification 20)

FIGS. 67A to 67C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 20 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 67A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 67B is a back view of a display device 2906, and FIG. 67C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2906 side. The arrangement of the display device 2906 is equal to that in Modification 19.

The architecture wall assembly has a guide member 3009 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage to a heat radiating plate 2966. The guide member 3009 is of a plate form as sized to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member side thereof at a location facing the heat radiating plate 2966 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the heat radiating plate 2966 and has ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

In Modification 20, the display device 2906 can be cooled down more effectively by guiding the air lifted from the lower of the air passage to the back side of the heat radiating plate 2966 with the guide member 3009.

(Modification 21)

FIGS. 68A to 68C schematically illustrate air cooling construction details of Modification 21 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 68A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 68B is a back view of a display device 3106, and FIG. 68C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 3106 side. The display device 3106 in Modification 21 is not equipped with a rear cabinet but with a power source circuit 3167 for driving a liquid crystal display module and a heat radiating plate 3166 (heat radiating member) connected directly to the back side of the power source circuit 3167 for radiating the heat as exposed to the rear base board 1004. The heat radiating plate 3166 is of a rectangular shape which is substantially equal in the horizontal and vertical dimensions and the size to the power source circuit 3167.

The architecture wall assembly also has a guide member 3109 mounted on the back side of the rear base board 1004 for guiding the air passed from the lower to the upper of the air passage to the heat radiating plate 3166. The guide member 3109 is of a plate form as sized to block the air passage in the architecture wall assembly and has a recess provided in the holding member side thereof at a location facing the heat radiating plate 3166 as sized substantially equal to the shape of the heat radiating plate 3166 and has ventilation parts provided in the upper and lower at the recess thereof.

In Modification 21, since the heat radiating plate 3166 is exposed to the rear base board 1004 with no use of a rear cabinet, the power source circuit 3167 in the display device 3106 can be cooled down directly by the air which runs through the air passage. Accordingly, the display device 3106 can be cooled down more effectively. The air lifted from the lower of the air passage is guided to the back side of the heat radiating plate 3166 by the guide member 3109 and can thus cool down the display device 3106 at higher effectiveness.

(Modification 22)

FIGS. 69A to 69C schematically illustrate water cooling construction details of Modification 22 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 69A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 69B is a back view of a display device 2906, and FIG. 69C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2906 side. The arrangement of the display device 2906 is equal to that in Modification 19. The architecture wall assembly has a water cooling pipe 1091 mounted to the back side thereof for cooling the display device 2906 with water. The water cooling pipe 1091 is disposed in contact with a heat radiating plate 2966 and sized so as to stay within the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the heat radiating plate 2966.

Modification 22 can cool down the display device 2906 more effectively using water.

(Modification 23)

FIGS. 70A to 70C schematically illustrate water cooling construction details of Modification 23 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 70A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 70B is a back view of a display device 2906, and FIG. 70C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 2906 side. The arrangement of the display device 2906 is equal to that in Modification 19. The architecture wall assembly has a water cooling pipe 1092 mounted to the back side thereof for cooling the display device 2906 with water. The water cooling pipe 1092 is disposed in contact with a heat radiating plate 2966 and sized so as to extend larger than the cooling area of the heat radiating plate 2966.

Modification 23 can cool down the display device 2906 more effectively using water.

(Modification 24)

FIGS. 71A to 71C schematically illustrate water cooling construction details of Modification 24 of the architecture wall assembly. FIG. 71A is a side cross sectional view of the architecture wall assembly, FIG. 71B is a back view of a display device 3106, and FIG. 71C is a front view of the rear base board 1004 seen from the display device 3106 side. The arrangement of the display device 3106 is equal to that in Modification 19. The architecture wall assembly has a water cooling pipe 1093 mounted to the back side thereof for cooling the display device 3106 with water. The water cooling pipe 1093 is disposed in contact with a heat radiating plate 3166 and sized so as to stay within the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the heat radiating plate 3166.

In Modification 24, with its power source circuit 3167 cooled down locally, the display device 3106 can be cooled down more effectively using water.

As this description may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds thereof are therefore intended to be embraced by the claims. 

1. A wall assembly, comprising: a wall body having an AV device held therein; and a cooling unit installed in the wall body as disposed in contact with the AV device and having a flow passage where a heat exchange medium runs through.
 2. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a part, entire, or a heat generating part of the AV device.
 3. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the AV device includes a display module, the display module being held by the holding unit while the cooling unit being disposed in contact with a part or entire of the display module.
 4. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is disposed to confront the front plate and substantially equal in size to the front plate.
 5. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet and a flow outlet provided in one side thereof for passing the heat exchange medium and a flow labyrinth passage extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet.
 6. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet provided in one side thereof and a flow outlet provided in the other side thereof opposite to the one side for passing the heat exchange medium.
 7. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is of a zigzag tubular shape.
 8. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit has a heat absorbing part and a zigzag tube which is disposed in contact with the heat absorbing part and where the heat medium runs through, and the heat absorbing part is disposed in contact with the AV device.
 9. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the window is of a rectangular shape, a plurality of the holding units are provided, each holding unit having a slot of a rectangular shape at a plan view provided lengthwisely therein and a bulkhead joint disposed detachably along the slot thereof, the holding units are arranged to confront each other along one end and the other end of the window, and the bulkhead joints are connected with conduits for introducing and discharging the heat exchange medium on the cooling unit.
 10. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit is fixedly joined to the rear plate.
 11. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange medium is either water or alternatives for chlorofluorocarbon.
 12. The wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit has a flow inlet for introducing the heat exchange medium and a flow outlet for discharging the heat exchange medium, and further comprising: conduits connected to the flow inlet and the flow outlet; and a circulation pump for delivering the heat exchange medium via the conduit to the cooling unit.
 13. A wall assembly, comprising: a front plate having a window provided therein for a display unit or an operating unit of an AV device; a holding unit for holding the AV device; a cooling unit disposed in contact with the AV device and having a flow passage where a heat exchange medium runs through; and a rear plate disposed to confront the front plate, wherein the front plate and the rear plate accommodate the holding unit and the cooling unit.
 14. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a part, entire, or a heat generating part of the AV device.
 15. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the AV device includes a display module, the display module being held by the holding unit while the cooling unit being disposed in contact with a part or entire of the display module.
 16. The wall assembly according to claim 15, wherein the cooling unit is disposed in contact with a heat generating part of the display module.
 17. The wall assembly according to claim 15, wherein the display module is of a parallelepiped shape having a display screen provided at one side thereof, and the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a recess fittable into the other side thereof opposite to the display module side.
 18. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is disposed to confront the front plate and substantially equal in size to the front plate.
 19. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet and a flow outlet provided in one side thereof for passing the heat exchange medium and a flow labyrinth passage extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet.
 20. The wall assembly according to claim 19, wherein the cooling unit has a narrowed part at midway between the flow inlet and the flow outlet.
 21. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is of a hollow shape having a flow inlet provided in one side thereof and a flow outlet provided in the other side thereof opposite to the one side for passing the heat exchange medium.
 22. The wall assembly according to claim 21, wherein the cooling unit has a narrowed part at midway between the flow inlet and the flow outlet.
 23. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is of a zigzag tubular shape.
 24. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit has a heat absorbing part and a zigzag tube which is disposed in contact with the heat absorbing part and where the heat medium runs through, and the heat absorbing part is disposed in contact with the AV device.
 25. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the window is of a rectangular shape, a plurality of the holding units are provided, each holding unit having a slot of a rectangular shape at a plan view provided lengthwisely therein and a bulkhead joint disposed detachably along the slot thereof, the holding units are arranged to confront each other along one end and the other end of the window, and the bulkhead joints are connected with conduits for introducing and discharging the heat exchange medium on the cooling unit.
 26. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit is fixedly joined to the rear plate.
 27. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the heat exchange medium is either water or alternatives for chlorofluorocarbon.
 28. The wall assembly according to claim 13, wherein the cooling unit has a flow inlet for introducing the heat exchange medium and a flow outlet for discharging the heat exchange medium, and further comprising: conduits connected to the flow inlet and the flow outlet; and a circulation pump for delivering the heat exchange medium via the conduit to the cooling unit.
 29. The wall assembly according to claim 28, wherein the AV device has a power switch, and a start switch for starting the circulating pump is interlocked with the action of the power switch.
 30. The wall assembly according to claim 28, wherein the cooling unit includes a temperature sensor, and the start switch of the circulation pump is turned on based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor.
 31. The wall assembly according to claim 28, wherein the cooling unit includes a temperature sensor, and the delivery output of the circulation pump is controlled based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor.
 32. The wall assembly according to claim 28, wherein the heat exchange medium is water, and further comprising a water storage tank, wherein the water stored in the water storage tank is fed to the cooling unit by the circulation pump.
 33. A hot-water supply system, comprising: the wall assembly defined in claim 1; and a hot water container for heating up the water supplied.
 34. The hot-water supply system according to claim 33, wherein the heat exchange medium to be supplied to the cooling unit is water, the water being conveyed to the hot water container.
 35. The hot-water supply system according to claim 33, further comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the water and the heat exchange medium, and the water heated in the heat exchanger is conveyed to the hot water container.
 36. The hot-water supply system according to claim 33, further comprising a water storage tank, wherein the water in the water storage tank is used as the heat exchange medium for passing through the cooling unit and conveyed to the hot water container.
 37. The hot-water supply system according to claim 33, further comprising: a water storage tank; and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied from the water storage tank and the heat exchange medium, wherein the water heated in the heat exchanger circulates through the water storage tank and the heat exchanger.
 38. A hot-water supply system, comprising: the wall assembly defined in claim 13; and a hot water container for heating up the water supplied.
 39. The hot-water supply system according to claim 38, wherein the heat exchange medium to be supplied to the cooling unit is water, the water being conveyed to the hot water container.
 40. The hot-water supply system according to claim 38, further comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the water and the heat exchange medium, and the water heated in the heat exchanger is conveyed to the hot water container.
 41. The hot-water supply system according to claim 38, further comprising a water storage tank, wherein the water in the water storage tank is used as the heat exchange medium for passing through the cooling unit and conveyed to the hot water container.
 42. The hot-water supply system according to claim 38, further comprising: a water storage tank; and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied from the water storage tank and the heat exchange medium, wherein the water heated in the heat exchanger circulates through the water storage tank and the heat exchanger.
 43. An architecture, comprising: the wall including the wall assembly defined in claim
 1. 44. An architecture, comprising: the wall including the wall assembly defined in claim
 13. 45. An architecture, comprising: the hot-water supply system defined in claim
 33. 46. An architecture, comprising: the hot-water supply system defined in claim
 38. 47. A wall assembly, comprising: a wall body for accommodating an AV device therein; an air passage provided in the wall body for communicating with the AV device accommodated in the wall body; and an opening communicated with the air passage.
 48. The wall assembly according to claim 47, wherein a plurality of the openings are provided, and further comprising a valve for selecting one of the openings for ventilation.
 49. The wall assembly according to claim 47, further comprising a fan disposed in the opening.
 50. The wall assembly according to claim 47, further comprising an AV device held by the holding member.
 51. A wall assembly, comprising: at least two columnar members; a holding member disposed between the two columnar members for holding an AV device; a cover plate for covering between the two columnar members; an air passage defined between the holding member and the covering plate or defined in the holding member; and an opening communicated with the air passage.
 52. The wall assembly according to claim 51, wherein the opening is provided in the cover plate.
 53. The wall assembly according to claim 51, wherein the cover plate is made from at least one material selected from wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, and steel board.
 54. The wall assembly according to claim 51, wherein a plurality of the openings are provided, and further comprising a valve for selecting one of the openings for ventilation.
 55. The wall assembly according to claim 51, further comprising a fan disposed in the opening.
 56. The wall assembly according to claim 51, further comprising an AV device held by the holding member.
 57. A wall assembly, comprising: at least two columnar members; a holding member disposed between the two columnar members for holding an AV device; a front cover plate for covering between the two columnar members from the front of the AV device; a rear cover plate for covering between the two columnar members from the back of the AV device; an air passage defined between the holding member and the rear cover plate or defined in the holding member; and an opening communicated with the air passage, wherein the front cover plate has a window provided therein from which the AV device to be held by the holding member is exposed.
 58. The wall assembly according to claim 57, wherein the holding member includes: a plate member joined at both ends along the transverse direction between the two columnar members to extend from the upper end to the lower end of the columnar members; a rectangular opening provided in the plate member for accommodating an AV device; and clamping members disposed along both the upper and lower ends of the opening for securely clamping the AV device from the upper and the lower directions.
 59. The wall assembly according to claim 58, wherein each of the clamping members has a ventilation hole provided in the rear cover plate side for passing the air from lower to upper or transversely.
 60. The wall assembly according to claim 57, wherein the opening is provided in either the front cover plate or the rear cover plate.
 61. The wall assembly according to claim 57, wherein a plurality of the openings are provided, and further comprising a valve for selecting one of the openings for ventilation.
 62. The wall assembly according to claim 61, further comprising: a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the outside of the wall assembly; and a controller for controlling the selecting action of the valve in response to a detection result of the temperature sensor.
 63. The wall assembly according to claim 61, further comprising: a detector for detecting the power on and off of the AV device; and a controller for controlling the action of the valve in response to a detection result of the detector.
 64. The wall assembly according to claim 57, further comprising a fan disposed in the opening.
 65. The wall assembly according to claim 64, further comprising: a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the inside of the wall assembly; and a controller for controlling the action of the fan in response to a detection result of the temperature sensor.
 66. The wall assembly according to claim 64, further comprising: a detector for detecting the power on and off of the AV device; and a controller for starting the action of the fan when the AV device is turned on and canceling the action of the fan when the AV device is turned off.
 67. The wall assembly according to claim 57, wherein the front cover plate and the rear cover plate are made from at least one material selected from wooden board, cement board, gypsum board, and steel board.
 68. The wall assembly according to claim 57, further comprising an AV device held by the holding member.
 69. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes a cabinet covering the back side, the cabinet having ventilation holes provided in both the upper and the lower thereof.
 70. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes at least a cabinet covering the back side, the cabinet having ventilation holes provided in both the upper and the lower thereof, further comprising a guide member for guiding the air passed through the air passage into the ventilation hole.
 71. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes at least a cabinet covering the back side, the cabinet having ventilation holes provided in both the upper and the lower thereof, further comprising a partition member disposed to separate the air passage into a ventilation opening side at the upper and a ventilation opening side at the lower.
 72. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes a cabinet which having a back side, an upper side, and a lower side thereof, the cabinet having ventilation openings provided in both the upper and lower sides thereof.
 73. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes a cabinet covering the back side and an electric circuit covered with-the cabinet, the cabinet having ventilation openings provided in both the upper and lower sides thereof above and beneath the electric circuit.
 74. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes a cabinet covering the back and an electric circuit covered with the cabinet, the cabinet having a projection provided on the back side thereof to extend rearwardly from a location facing the electric circuit, ventilation openings are provided in both the upper and lower sides of the projection.
 75. The wall assembly according to claim 68, wherein the AV device includes a heat radiating member exposed to the rear cover plate for radiating heat generated by the AV device.
 76. The wall assembly according to claim 75, further comprising a guide member for guiding the air passed through the air passage towards the heat radiating member.
 77. An architecture, comprising the wall assembly defined in claim
 47. 78. The architecture according to claim 77, further comprising: a ventilation device for ventilating the room; and a duct for connecting between the ventilation device and the opening of the wall assembly.
 79. The architecture according to claim 78, wherein the ventilation device includes a duct for communicating to the outside of the architecture.
 80. An architecture, comprising the wall assembly defined in claim
 51. 81. The architecture according to claim 80, further comprising: a ventilation device for ventilating the room; and a duct for connecting between the ventilation device and the opening of the wall assembly.
 82. The architecture according to claim 81, wherein the ventilation device includes a duct for communicating to the outside of the architecture.
 83. An architecture, comprising the wall assembly defined in claim
 57. 84. The architecture according to claim 83, further comprising: a ventilation device for ventilating the room; and a duct for connecting between the ventilation device and the opening of the wall assembly.
 85. The architecture according to claim 84, wherein the ventilation device includes a duct for communicating to the outside of the architecture. 